The kayaker used his cell phone to call the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol for help, stating that he was disoriented and could see four nearby oil platforms. The harbor patrol relayed the call for help to the Coast Guard Command Center in San Pedro, Calif.
Using the man’s description of his location and a cell phone trace, the Coast Guard developed a search area and dispatched a MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles. The helicopter crew located the man at 10:45 p.m. The helicopter relayed the position to the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol who were able to retrieve the kayaker about 6.5 miles from the coastline.
Emergency Medical Services evaluated and released the man.
A small boat from Station Channel Islands was also launched in the search and rescue effort.
“The Coast Guard reminds all recreational boaters to tell someone of their intended voyage and when they expect to return, have a reliable means of communication, preferably a VHF-FM marine radio, and to carry and use proper safety equipment, including a life jacket and signaling devices. The situation for this mariner could have been a lot worse had the Coast Guard not been able to locate him quickly.” said Steven Lafrenz, a Command Center Watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach.