British male who capsized in English Channel was striving to paddle to Spain, statements rescuer

A British person who survived by eating seaweed and consuming rainwater immediately after he capsized in the English Channel had been making an attempt to kayak to Spain, according to the fisherman who rescued him.

Daniel Lewis, from Blackpool, clung on to a buoy following his inflatable kayak capsized in the middle of the Channel before he was spotted by Dutch fishermen on Thursday.

The 28-12 months-outdated practically drowned and is comprehended to have informed rescuers that he survived by ingesting uncooked mussels, crabs and seaweed during his maritime ordeal.

Dutch fisherman Tunis Van Luut stated the kayaker explained to him he had been making an attempt to paddle to Spain and that he also claimed he had been at sea considering that October 15 and on the buoy for 4.

But the French coastguard dismissed the strategy that he could have been at sea for as lengthy as 12 days, declaring it would be unattainable to survive.

Daniel Lewis (pictured), 28, told his rescuers that he had been making an attempt to kayak to Spain right before his boat capsized in the English Channel

Dutch fisherman noticed the 28-year-old hanging on to a buoy and managed to pull him to security

French Channel authorities mentioned he was discovered by fishermen all over midway between Dover and France

Mr Van Lutt, 41, explained to The Mirror that Mr Lewis had been unable to stand when they managed to carry him onboard the French fishing vessel De Madelaine.

The skipper stated: ‘He essential drinking water and he was consuming a great deal, and I questioned him who are you and how is it feasible that you are below on this buoy without the need of your apparel, just your swimming shorts – there was nothing else.

‘We questioned him, “what time did you depart” and he explained it was October 15 from Dover in a kayak. We requested when he had the incident, but his ailment was so undesirable and I could see that his eyes had been incredibly deep in his head and he had a large amount of blue veins on his head and arms. 

‘He explained to me he preferred to go to Spain, but I mentioned that is stupid simply because of the length – it’s too much. That’s what he told us, he departed on Oct 15 from Dover and his prepare was that he was heading to Spain.’

Mr Van Lutt mentioned the kayaker was just 79F (26C) and the crew quickly phoned the coastguard, who arrived just 8 minutes afterwards.

On Friday Mr Lewis’s father Richard told MailOnline he was ‘both relieved and concerned’ when he observed photographs of his son, who was upset pursuing a new split-up, staying rescued from the sea.

He was rescued by a group of fishermen from the Netherlands in the Channel ahead of becoming airlifted to a French medical center by the French Coast Guard

Immediately after becoming taken aboard the fatigued British kayaker (pictured) was available some water and a Snickers chocolate bar

He said: ‘From the minute I observed the images of the lad staying rescued from the sea I understood it was my Daniel.

‘I’m so delighted that he is risk-free and perfectly and remaining appeared after in clinic. But I was seriously nervous that he experienced practically been dropped at sea. I had no concept he was arranging nearly anything like this. [Daniel] has had a large amount of complications and he has been relocating all over a whole lot. He has been residing concerning Liverpool, Wrexham and Birmingham.

‘I consider to continue to keep tabs on him and I test to communicate to him on the mobile phone as often as I can. But the other day he just vanished. I later on listened to that he had split up with his girlfriend.

‘I had no idea he had absent down south or that he was setting up to paddle throughout the Channel.

‘Daniel has by no means been into kayaking. He doesn’t even very own a canoe.’

Coastguards in France, exactly where he was taken for crisis remedy, stated he did not appear to be to have right coaching in how to use a kayak and failed to show up to have any aid or back-up for his endeavor at this sort of a risky crossing.

French authorities stated he was discovered by fishermen keeping onto the ‘Colbart Nord’ buoy (pictured)

Orlane Saliou, spokeswoman for the Maritime Gendarmerie, the French equal of the Coastguard, stated it did not appear that he was expert.

She extra that his superior actual physical exercise and the timely rescue had ‘saved his life’. But she rubbished some media reports that he could have been lost at sea for as prolonged as 12 days – as this would have been extremely hard to survive.

Madame Saliou informed MailOnline: ‘His motives concerning this crossing are not pretty crystal clear but it would appear to be that a sporting job need to be discarded.

‘The Maritime Gendarmerie is at this time carrying out an investigation on this subject.

‘The particular person experienced from hypothermia, basic tiredness and dehydration but provided his excellent bodily resistance, his common point out of wellness is really excellent.

‘The sufferer was taken care of by the French health care providers as shortly as they arrive in the territory.

‘The responsiveness of the CROSS Griz-nez [maritime emergency station] and the quick engagement of the French Navy helicopter Dauphin likely saved his life.’

She extra that the Briton had attempted to cross the ‘world’s busiest h2o way’ which 400 industrial ships move by way of each day and endures 120 times per yr of ‘force seven gales’.