Rescuers are left baffled by claims British kayaker spent 12 days adrift in the Channel because it would be ‘impossible so survive’ after he was plucked from buoy wearing nothing but swimming trunks

• Exclusive: British kayaker, 28, is rescued by Dutch fishermen in the English Channel after clinging to a buoy
• The daring paddler was trying to cross from Dover to France without having had any training or support 
• But he capsized his kayak and was clung to a buoy to avoid drowning, surviving on seaweed and mussels
• Miraculously, despite suffering from severe hypothermia, he survived and was airlifted to a French hospital 
• But French coastguards have been baffled by ‘impossible’ claims the man had survived 12 days adrift at sea
• Do you know the rescued kayaker? If so, then please send an email to:  [email protected]

A British man’s attempt to kayak across the Channel to France which ended with him clinging to a buoy for two days has left coastguards baffled.

The man, believed to be from Manchester, nearly drowned after being separated from his kayak for two days, French authorities confirmed.

He was only rescued after being spotted by fishermen by which time he was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion.

Today coastguards in France where he was taken for emergency treatment revealed he did not seem to have proper training in how to use a kayak and didn’t appear to have any support or back up for his attempt at such a dangerous crossing.

A British man whose kayak had capsized when crossing the English Channel to France was rescued yesterday morning after fishermen found him clinging to a buoy for dear life

He was rescued by a group of fishermen from the Netherlands in the Channel before being airlifted to a French hospital by the French Coast Guard

After being taken aboard the exhausted British kayaker (pictured) was offered some water and a Snickers chocolate bar

Orlane Saliou, spokeswoman for the Maritime Gendarmerie, the French equivalent of the Coastguard, said it didn’t appear that he was experienced.

She added that his good physical fitness and the timely rescue had ‘saved his life’. But she rubbished some media reports that he could have been lost at sea for as long as 12 days – as this would have been impossible to survive.

Do you know the rescued kayaker?

Email: [email protected] 

Madame Saliou told MailOnline: ‘His motives concerning this crossing are not very clear but it would seem that a sporting project should be discarded.

‘The Maritime Gendarmerie is currently carrying out an investigation on this topic.

‘The person suffered from hypothermia, general fatigue and dehydration but given his good physical resistance, his general state of health is quite good.

‘The victim was taken care of by the French healthcare services as soon as they arrive in the territory.

‘The responsiveness of the CROSS Griz-nez [maritime emergency station] and the rapid engagement of the French Navy helicopter Dauphin probably saved his life.’

She added that the Briton had attempted to cross the ‘world’s busiest water way’ which 400 commercial ships pass through every day and endures 120 days per year of ‘force seven gales’.

He was spotted by the crew of cutter ship ‘De Madelaine’, from Urk in the Netherlands who launched the rescue attempt at 11am yesterday.

He was found when skipper and owner Teunis de Boer was sailing between England and France this morning when he spotted something in the water. 

French Channel authorities said he was found by fishermen holding onto the ‘Colbart Nord’ buoy around halfway between Dover and France

Fisherman Teunis de Boer grabbed a pair of binoculars and saw the exhausted and distressed Briton wearing only a pair of swimming trunks ‘waving at us like a madman’

The British kayaker (pictured), 28, was reportedly suffering from severe hypothermia when he was brought onboard

The crew of De Madelaine then wrapped him in blankets and called the French Coast Guard, who airlifted him to a hospital for treatment, pictured

The captain wanted to make sure they didn’t get too close to the buoy when he ‘saw something crazy moving’ near it, he told local media.

Mr De Boer grabbed a pair of binoculars, and to his surprise saw the exhausted and distressed Briton wearing only a pair of swimming trunks ‘waving at us like a madman’, according to De Telegraaf.

Despite the choppy weather, the crew quickly worked to rescue him by sailing towards him and throwing a life ring into the water. The man managed to use his last bit of strength to reach out so they could bring him to the boat.

He was suffering from severe hypothermia when he was brought onboard with a body temperature of just 26C, Het Urkerland reports.

The Briton was also bruised, dehydrated and his eyes were ‘very deep in his sockets’. ‘It’s a miracle he survived,’ Skipper De Boer said.

The heroic crew then offered the exhausted man a Snickers chocolate bar who then told him he had set out to kayak from Dover to France, but his boat had capsized leaving him the only option of clinging to the floating buoy.

Authorities believe he spent around 48 hours in the water and on the buoy.

The man is now in hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer and and is said to be able to talk but is in a ‘bad shape’.

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