LIFEBOAT crews rescued two kayakers after their boats capsized off Walney.

Volunteer crews from the RNLI’s Barrow station launched the Vision of Tamworth inshore boat and the all-weather lifeboat, Grace Dixon, for the rescue yesterday afternoon.

The alarm was raised after 3.30pm by two kayakers from a group of four who had managed to reach the shore at the south end of Walney Island. They had paddled for some 20 minutes after becoming separated from the other two missing kayakers.

It reported to HM Coastguard that the kayakers had drifted out towards the offshore windfarms.

The crew of the Grace Dixon spotted the two kayakers in the water just off Hilpsford Point at the south end of Walney.

The inshore crew recovered the people from the water who were suffering from exposure to the cold water, one in particular was in a poor condition.

At 4.16pm the casualties were transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and brought back to the lifeboat station where they arrived at 4.35pm. The casualties were then put into the hands of a waiting ambulance crew who took them to Furness General Hospital for further assessment and care.

The inshore lifeboat recovered one of the kayaks from the water and brought it back to the lifeboat station. The other was recovered by Furness Coastguard who had also attended the incident.

With warmer weather and lighter evenings, the sea temperature remains low and the RNLI says it is a timely reminder for everyone to “Respect the Water”, the campaign details can be found at www.respectthewater.com