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Wednesday June 19, 2013

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Miscommunication between Police leads to major search for kayaker

Posted by: Ellen Feely | 10 January, 2013 - 10:40 AM
PJ Wardle cleans his kayak after it washed up on Hampton Beach and lead to a major Police search. <i>(Photo: Sam McClure/3AW)</i>

A snapper-fishing kayaker who was forced to abandon his vessel amid poor conditions at Hampton Beach last night has told how miscommunication between Police lead to a major search.

PJ Wardle, 39, of Cheltenham, told Justin Smith that officers from Sandringham Police station were present at Hampton Beach when he swam 800 metres ashore after being forced to abandon his kayak.

However the message was not passed onto Water Police, who together with the Air Wing launched a major search after the yellow, single-person kayak washed up 100 metres from Hampton Life Saving Club at around 7am. Fishing gear was also located on the beach last night.

Mr Wardle, who is ex-navy, said his kayak was forced under the water by the two-metre waves, prompting him to inflate his life jacket and swim to shore.

"I made my way back into the shore. The Sandringham Police, they were there, and they asked me did I want to have an ambulance (attend)," he told Justin Smith.

"A little bit of miscommunication between a couple of people, and that's what happens.

"It ends up costing the state, I'm guessing."

Mr Wardle said his experience proved the value of wearing a life jacket.

"If you're going to go out, wear your life jacket. That's the important thing; that's pretty much what got me back," he said.

Victoria Police thanked 3AW after it was established the owner of a yellow, single-person kayak found washed up on Hampton Beach was safe and well.

It's understood the owner of the kayak was contacted by people who heard the alert on the Justin Smith program.

- with Michelle Zydower

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Blog comments Your Say

  • No sinbad, you dont need not certifiable help but an optometrist as to your rose coloured view of vic police ethics or rather their lack of ethics .Never mind there always still time for you to learn and see the world...as it really is. Serious trouble behind the scenes.. that may appear as a concealed assisted stategy to gain funding for a foothold like the upgrading of the coast guard facilities on jetty road.ehh Seriously drongo you and your keyboard dupicate like mick whose longest trip would be to the outhouse where he now lives.Naive, gullible and dictatorial seems to sum up your insight.Keep an eye out for the icac blue letter that may arrive,won't you!

    Another blind woodbe Mr.Doolittle Sunday 13 January, 2013 - 11:28 AM

  • ahh shinpads, they tell you have left 3aw and are now working at coles as a filler
    As to a psychological thriller that would be karl alexander your twin..eh woodbe copper and of course mick the gullible clod
    who is more of a protestant than a mick.Check the next door neighbour mick.he's a bit worried about you frothing at the mouth over the keyboard.Aah such is a wife or is it a life

    mud its not mud its the trooth Saturday 12 January, 2013 - 11:16 AM

  • What rubbish are you taking? What does this have to do with power and ego when they were out looking for someone who they thought could have been in serious trouble.
    Is the tin foil hat too tight today?

    mick Thursday 10 January, 2013 - 11:28 PM

  • Fortunately no-one got lost in the search using Victoria's crap maps courtesy of DSE Land Victoria still all at sea from the jacoby legacy.

    TF of LV Thursday 10 January, 2013 - 8:05 PM

  • To "put fat cop blah blah"....who in the community is "talking about their out of control ego"!....except of course you, as you seem to have an inherent, bordering on certifiable dislike of Vic Pol? At least this was a happy outcome despite some error in communication. Not exactly a reason to throw mud I wouldn't have thought....then again I don't need psychological help!

    Sinbad Thursday 10 January, 2013 - 12:41 PM

  • What next cctv ..what a big beat up.Next, we will have armed gurds on beaches...
    Have the vic police gone mad or are they so determined to increase their power and prescence.No wonder the community is talking about their out of control ego!

    Put the fat cop on beach duty Thursday 10 January, 2013 - 11:57 AM

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