A Brit who was found clinging to a buoy after his kayak capsized was rescued by fishermen in the English Channel.
The 28-year-old kayaker had reportedly survived “for days” in the middle of the ocean eating only seaweed and mussels.
He had allegedly left Dover almost two weeks ago to try and cross the English Channel, before things took a turn for the worse.
After his kayak capsized, he was left battling for his life and eventually found by the crew of cutter ship ‘De Madelaine', of the shipping company T. de Boer en Zonen from the Netherlands.
According to reports from Dutch media he was rescued around 11am this morning.
He was only found when captain Teunis de Boer was sailing between England and France, across the channel, and noticed something out of the ordinary.
Do you know the rescued Brit? Contact the Mirror on webnews@mirror.co.uk
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28347802.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_Brit-found-clinging-to-capsized-kayak-rescued-by-fisherman-in-English-Channel.jpg)
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28347851.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_DNP_CHP_271022SLUG_6922-D.jpg)
He made sure not to get too close to the buoy when he “saw something crazy moving”.
The captain grabbed a pair of binoculars and saw the exhausted and terrified Brit, dressed just in swimming trunks “waving at us like a madman”, according to De Telegraaf .
The crew were able to save him quickly despite the choppy weather and the man managed to use what strength he had left to reach out for help.
The exhausted Brit was rescued from the sea and offered some water and a Snickers chocolate bar.
He had reportedly suffered severe hypothermia when he was brought onboard with a body temperature of just 26C - which could be lethal.
The Brit was also bruised, dehydrated and his eyes were “very deep in his sockets”.
“It's a miracle he survived,” Skipper De Boer said.
As the rescued man recovered, he told the crew his story - how he tried to kayak the channel before capsizing and clinging to the floating buoy for life.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28347872.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_DNP_CHP_271022SLUG_6924-D.jpg)
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28347871.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_DNP_CHP_271022SLUG_6923-D.jpg)
Het Urkerland reported he set off from Dover 12 days ago on October 15 - it isn’t known when he capsized.
The man was incredibly lucky to be found as the crew had not initially planned to fish in the area, but went out after the morning’s catch was a disappointment.
Whilst they awaited the French Coast Guard he signed a heart with his hands to show his gratitude, unable to speak due to exhaustion.
He was then airlifted to a French hospital for treatment.