Fatal capsize on fishing trip

One man died and his companion swam to safety after a kayak took on water and capsized.

What happened 

The men had set off for an evening of fishing, aboard their large plastic sit-on-top kayak, in a remote area. As they headed to the fishing spot, they shared the paddling and drank alcohol.  

a sea kayak with some equipment onboard stored in a kayaking club house

The plastic sit‑on‑top sea kayak showing the open stern hatch cover. 
Maritime NZ

At the fishing spot, they removed the kayak’s anchor from the stern hatch and anchored stern‑to in moderate seas. Because both were seated facing forward, they did not see waves breaking over the stern and slopping into the stern hatch, which they had left open. 

After about 20 minutes, the men realised the kayak was sitting low in the water and closed the stern hatch. As they tried to pull up the anchor, the free surface effect of the water (when water can move about freely causing a destabilising effect) inside the hull caused the kayak to capsize. Both men were thrown into the water. They began swimming together towards a nearby island. 

One man was swimming strongly but, when he stopped to check on his companion, realised the other man was no longer in sight. He swam back to where he last saw his friend but, unable to find him, continued to the island. Members of the public saw him and rescued him. 

An aerial and sea search could not find the other man at the time. Police divers later recovered his body. 

Safety points 

  • Neither man was wearing a lifejacket. The men had been drinking alcohol, which impairs perception and judgement, can cause disorientation and increase the body’s susceptibility to cold. 

  • The kayak was a popular plastic model with no watertight compartments or other enclosed buoyancy in the hull. 

  • When a large volume of water enters a vessel, it is subject to free surface effect, causing instability. People on board might not realise a vessel is taking on water until it is too late and the vessel capsizes. 

  • Additional buoyancy can be added to this type of kayak through the stern or forward hatches. Buoyancy bladders, polystyrene blocks, or sealed plastic containers such as milk bottles can help prevent a kayak from sinking. If the vessel capsizes, these materials help it sit higher in the water, making it easier for rescuers to see and giving people in the water something to hold on to. 

  • Opening a hatch in seas that can put water inside the vessel is hazardous and should be avoided, except in an emergency. 

  • Kayak pumps are widely available. The water could probably have been removed if a pump had been on board. 

  • If the men had carried a distress beacon, a waterproof hand‑held VHF marine radio, or a cell phone in a sealed plastic bag, they could have called for rescue instead of risking a swim to shore. 

  • The men were not aware of the sea state and how it affected their vessel. Skippers of small vessels should position their vessel so they can continuously see the direction waves are coming from.