A hypothermic Cromwell man was rescued after falling from his kayak north of Dunedin.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand Otago and Southland club support officer Sam Clutterbuck said lifeguards at Warrington Surf Life Saving Club were called about 7pm on Thursday after kayakers got in ''trouble'' at the estuary mouth at Blueskin Bay.
A 42-year-old man and a woman aged in her late 40s, both of Cromwell, were in separate kayaks and were unable to return to shore and were drifting out to sea.
When lifeguards Immy and Eilis Doyle arrived in an inflatable boat, the kayakers were about 200m from shore and drifting further out to sea.
The man had fallen out of his kayak and was holding on to it. He had several cuts to his body and was showing signs of hypothermia.
While the man was being rescued, the woman managed to get to shore by herself, Mr Clutterbuck said.
Both kayakers were treated on the beach by lifeguards, with the assistance of two nurses in the kayaking group.
The man was ''OK'' yesterday but had been shaken by the incident, Mr Clutterbuck said.
