Kayaker Saved By Lighthouse
By Sue Clark on Oct 30, 2008 in The Light Side 
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Who says lighthouses serve no purpose? Green’s Ledge Lighthouse in Long Island Sound, CT, provided safe harbor for a 59 year old Darien, CT man after six to eight foot waves prevented him from rowing back to shore.
Hoby Baker told rescuers he headed to the lighthouse when he realized he wouldn’t be able to make it back to shore in the rain and heavy wind. Air temperature was 44 degrees F and water temperature around 60 degrees F. Baker had a life jacket on, but no cell phone. He was on the lighthouse for about four hours before rescue. He flipped over his kayak, which became lodged in the rocks around the light, to protect him from the weather.
So what was he doing out in such nasty conditions? Chasing a rowboat, apparently. From the story at The Hour:
Baker had spotted an abandoned dinghy drifting on the water and followed it in his 12-foot kayak at about 3 p.m. in an attempt to secure the row boat, according to Darien police spokesman Sgt. Jeremiah Marron Jr. Heavy winds blew Baker’s boat south in Long Island Sound during his attempt to reach the abandoned row boat, Marron said.
Baker was soaked, but didn’t appear to be suffering from hypothermia. He refused medical treatment at the scene, telling rescuers from the Norwalk Police Department Marine Rescue Unit that he “just wanted to get home.”
Photo Credit: Lighthouse by Glemak. Some rights reserved.
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2 Comment(s)
By mike dunn on Oct 30, 2008 | Reply
hey glad my photo was useful to you - thanks for the attribution
By Sue Clark on Oct 31, 2008 | Reply
No, a big thank you to you and to everyone who releases images under the Creative Commons license.