A man who was trying to kayak to the Isle of Man got into difficulties this morning just five miles off the English coast.

He capsized in choppy seas off St Bees Head in Cumbria.

Lifeboats from St Bees RNLI, Workington, Barrow, Douglas and Ramsey and the Coastguard’s search and rescue helicopter and Maryport’s Inshore Rescue boat were called.

St Bees and Workington RNLI were the first lifeboats to arrive in the area where the casualty estimated his position to be, they started a search pattern co-ordinated by Belfast Coastguard.

The kayak did not carry a VHF radio or any distress flares, making it very difficult to locate him.

Following a search of a wide area lasting nearly two hours, the helicopter located the kayaker and his boat, and proceeded to winch him aboard.

The RNLI said the kayaker did not require any medical attention.

He was taken by helicopter to Workington RNLI’s lifeboat station and given a shower and hot drink. Workington’s lifeboat picked up his kayak and reunited it with its owner back at their station.

Dick Beddows, St Bees RNLI operation manager said: ‘It was great to see five lifeboats, the Coastguard and an independent lifeboat all working together to achieve a great outcome. It could have ended very differently. It was good to see that the kayaker was wearing all the correct safely equipment which undoubtedly helped save his life, but a VHF radio and a small pack of distress flares would have made locating him a lot quicker.’