A Westport man who fell out of his kayak without a life jacket was washed on to the beach just before Buller surf lifesavers were about to rescue him.
Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood said the man, in his early 40s, was reminded of the basics of water safety after the emergency callout.
The man was fishing from his kayak about 1km from shore when he got into trouble.
His partner was watching from shore and saw him fall out.
She became concerned when he could not get back in the kayak as he did not have a life jacket.
Surf lifesavers and police were dispatched from Westport and the rescue helicopter from Greymouth, with additional police, to the capsize about 3km north of the Buller River mouth and 1km out to sea.
Just as the inflatable rescue boat was about to reach him, he was washed up by the surf, exhausted.
"They were ready to haul him out," Snr Sgt Mark Kirkwood said.
"He got a stern talking to by police, about the need to wear a life jacket."
He said the man’s partner had been extremely distressed.
Mr Kirkwood praised the Buller surf lifesavers’ response, being on site in just 20 minutes — "you can’t beat that".
The Westport mishap comes just two days after a man was rescued from the Arnold River after he fell out of a kayak and was then trapped when his foot became caught in a tree, leaving only his head out of water.
In that case, police said the life jacket had undoubtedly saved the man’s life.
