Nelson police say a man is lucky to be alive after capsizing his kayak into the icy waters near the Orange Bridge Sunday.
It happened around lunch time. A police reservist responded in the police boat and rescued the 48 year old man who was found clinging to his craft. The reserve member pulled him out of the water.
The paddler was not wearing a life jacket although he had one in the kayak.
Police say conditions like wind , waves, and cold water can make it very difficult to find a life jacket and put it on, even if it’s in your kayak.