VOLUNTEER lifeboat crewmen took a break from their regular Sunday morning exercise at Minehead to rescue a kayaker who was in danger of being swept away by one of the highest tides of the year.

The kayaker’s fishing trip went wrong when he was caught out by a massive 11.6m tide.

He had originally anchored his craft off Minehead’s old pier, but when the tide turned his anchor began to drag and he found himself unable to make headway against the ebb.

He ended up off Greenaleigh Point, but managed to attract the attention of the RNLI crew of the station’s D-class lifeboat who were in the area.

He and his boat were taken aboard and later landed on the beach near his home in Quay West.

Lifeboat helmsman Richard Gay said: “Conditions were fine when he went out, but then the wind suddenly got up, and that and the fact that the tide was turning much more strongly than he expected left him in a bit of trouble.

“He was properly equipped, but this goes to show how big tides and a sudden change in the weather can immediately put someone in danger.”

Exceptionally high tides are forecast again on the weekend of March 20-22.