A MAN spent four and a half hours swimming to safety after his kayak capsized.

Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination centre in Weymouth were called at 6.30am on Monday about a sea kayak found drifting close to the Needles.

It was eventually discovered it had been lost the day before after the owner was tipped out between Portland and Ringstead.

He had spent four-and-a-half hours swimming whilst his girlfriend stayed alongside in her kayak, but they had no means of calling for assistance. The kayak was eventually recovered and reunited with its owner.

Elsewhere, at 5.30pm Portland coastguard sent the Exmouth coastguard rescue team to investigate a large cliff fall that had occurred near Rodney Point, Exmouth. Fortunately no one was involved and it was reported to the appropriate authorities.

At 7.16pm Portland coastguard were given a call by Swansea coastguards. A woman had called them after she heard, second hand, that a boat previously owned by her had been involved in some sort of distress. The incident was tracked down to Humber who were dealing with a distress call from the vessel and all contact details were passed to them.