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Elderly Kayaker Lost at Sea Rescued After Night of Mosquitoes
18 Mar
Summary
- A 73-year-old kayaker was rescued after being lost at sea overnight.
- The kayaker survived the ordeal, reporting many mosquitoes as the worst part.
- Rescue services located him via helicopter the following morning.
A 73-year-old kayaker, Goran Radic, was safely winched to safety by a rescue helicopter on Wednesday morning, March 19, 2026, after an overnight ordeal lost at sea. Radic had launched his kayak from Middle Beach, a coastal suburb northwest of Adelaide, an area he had navigated numerous times before.
He became disoriented in Saint Vincent Gulf on Tuesday afternoon. Relatives raised the alarm around 11 PM on Tuesday, March 18, 2026, after he failed to return. Police, with the assistance of marine rescue crews and aerial support, conducted an extensive overnight search.
Radic was eventually spotted at approximately 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 19, 2026, floating 2km south of Middle Beach. He recounted that the primary discomfort during his night adrift was the abundance of mosquitoes. Despite seeing a rescue helicopter during the night, he was not spotted until the morning search.
Paramedics assessed Radic at the scene and confirmed he was in good health. His kayak was recovered later that day. Radic expressed gratitude to the first responders and indicated he intends to kayak again, albeit with greater caution.
