A KAYAKER rescued after spending more than two hours treading water is very lucky to be alive, according to Brisbane Coast Guard.
Coast Guard, VMR and police boats and helicopters were deployed to search for Carston Woodhouse, 40, whose kayak capsized kilometres off shore at Wellington Point in rough seas and strong winds of about 25 knots.
He was able to use his mobile phone to call a friend, who notified police.
Mr Woodhouse was found hundreds of metres away from his kayak, cold and exhausted, more than two hours after he called for help.
Redland Bay Coast Guard's David Bell said high winds had made conditions on the bay unpleasant on the weekend.
"Because of the weather conditions a lot of people probably decided to stay off the water, so we didn't see droves of people (on the bay)," he said.
"Inside the islands in protected areas it wasn't too bad but in the open waters it would have been quite uncomfortable."
He urged people to take precautions before heading out onto the water, no matter the conditions.
"The normal thing would be to make sure somebody knows you're on the water, log in with one of the VMR or Coast Guard groups and tell them where you're going and when you're due back, and make sure you have all the appropriate safety gear with you," he said.
"A big thing too is for people to check the conditions before they go and make sure it's within their capability."
Offshore winds could make the sea look deceptively flat and calm.
In 2015, North Stradbroke Island VMR rescued a man whose kayak sank between Straddie and Moreton Island.
Coast Guard and police also launched a search last year when a teenager went missing while reportedly trying to kayak to school. He was later found safe on the Logan River.
Redland Bay Coast Guard was expecting calls for help to increase as COVID-19 restrictions eased.
