AN EXPERIENCED kayaker relived the dramatic moment lifeboat volunteers raced to his rescue and saved him and his friend to mark the launch of the RNLI's Mayday campaign.
To kick off the campaign on May 1, 23 people lined up outside Llandudno lifeboat station to represent the number of people rescued off the Welsh coast every week by crews in 2018.
Chad Cooper, 32, was one of those facing the camera and recalled how he and his friend got into difficulty.
His friend was kayaking off the coast off Llandudno for the very first time.
A big wave caught his friend and his kayak capsized. Chad, a former Ysgol Eirias pupil, got into the water to try and help but the situation became panicked and his friend disappeared from view.
Chad Cooper was rescued off the coast of Llandudno. Picture: Kerry Roberts
He said: "I have been going out [in the kayak] for a long time. We had committed to this night and it wasn't the best evening. It was about 8pm. It was calm enough but wasn't ideal.
"We reached the point of the break water and it got very choppy.
"A particularly big wave caught my friend and he capsized and then after a while of trying to get him back in, I ended trying to get in myself to try and help the situation.
"I got caught in an offshore current and then it reached a point where a couldn't see him anymore, then panic kicks in. A situation got serious quite quickly."
Chad cried for help.
"I was close enough to the shore, there is a row of houses, so I just kept shouting," he said.
"My parents live on the coast and they normally keep an eye out. I was semi confident that someone might have seen us and would have raised the alarm and I had a confidence knowing that the RNLI would be there at some point."
Chad Cooper, with lifeboat volunteers Luke Heritage (right) with father Graham (far left) and behind, people 23 people line up outside Llandudno lifeboat station to mark how many people are rescued off the Welsh coast every week. Picture: Kerry Roberts
"I could hear it [the lifeboat'] first and it was a massive relief.
"They came to me first and I immediately sent them to my friend because I couldn’t see him."
Luke Heritage, RNLI lifeboat assistant mechanic and helsman at Llandudno, was involved in the rescue.
He volunteers at the lifeboat station alongside his father Graham and joined the team when he was 17.
He said: "The call was made - it was a 999 call made from the shore about two people were in the water. As we rounded the Little Orme headland, we could see them in the water.
"Chad, one of the casualties, had gone into the water to try and rescue his friend. It takes so much energy out of you once you've actually gone in the water that it was just a struggle for them both to try and get back into the kayak.
"Hypothermia had started to kick in and Chad was feeling really cold once we'd pulled him out the water. We then took him into the shore, handed him over to the coastguard and the ambulance unit there."
Children help launch the Mayday campaign. Picture: Kerry Roberts
The Mayday campaign will help the charity raise funds towards their essential kit. It currently costs £2161 to provide one all-weather lifeboat crew member with the kit they need - the specialist layered clothing and yellow wellies cost £1,265, a lifejacket costs £458, pager £150, safety gloves £25 and a safety helmet costs £263.
Speaking about why it was so important to support the campaign, Chad added: "I always knew the great work the RNLI do but being in that situation, I appreciate it a lot more.
"I'm well aware of the work they do and the speed they do it. It is nice to know that you can go out and do your water-sports around here and that you’ve got that sense if you get into any trouble you’ve got that really experienced bunch.
"It is extremely important to support the work they do so they can keep doing it. It can be all too easy to stumble into quite a serious situation which I experienced first hand.
"They need the support to keep doing the great work they do."
Chad revealed his ordeal hadn't put him off the water.
"My friend, it was his first time, he has been out there but that was also his last time," he said.
"It has not put me off but I don’t think you can use that situation as a reason for stopping. I’ve been out plenty of times since."
The RNLI is asking people to get creative and Go Yellow throughout this May.
The charity rely on the generosity of the public. To support the Mayday campaign, throughout this month, visit RNLI.org/mayday
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