A Gold Coast kayaker, who left Ballina on Sunday in an ambitious attempt to be the first to cross the Tasman solo, had to be rescued yesterday after his homemade craft began to sink.
ABC reported 53-year-old Stuart Cleary phoned his wife on Monday morning to say he was having problems and would paddle back towards land.
But Mr Cleary was still 45 nautical miles off the coast of Coffs Harbour on Monday afternoon when he was forced to activate his distress beacon, only a day after setting off from Ballina.
The Life Saver Rescue Helicopter attended the scene but returned to base after Mr Cleary was picked up by a NSW Water Police boat.
NSW Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson says the kayaker is in a good condition.
Some other idiot was trying to do this in the last year or two from Port Macquarie and failed twice. It’s a stupid thing to try and do, obviously very dangerous.