Hayling Island lifeboats called to rescue family after kayak capsizes near Thorney Island

The incident saw the father and son become separated after they went overboard into the Thorney Island channel on Wednesday afternoon.

Accompanied by the family dog, the 11-year-old was able to swim to a mud bank and call 999.

He was rescued by the Hayling RNLI D-Class lifeboat, before the coastguard launched another lifeboat and a rescue helicopter to search for the boy’s missing father.

A spokesman from the coastguard said: ‘They were relieved to hear from the coastguard shore team that the father had made it ashore but in doing so had sustained a minor

head injury.

‘The helicopter paramedic was landed and checked the casualty who needed no further medical help.

‘The D-Class came ashore and reunited father, son, dog, and kayak, to their great relief and the rescue services were stood down.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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