Neck and spine break kayaker pays tribute to RNLI

Dart RNLI’s D Class volunteer lifeboat crew managed to move Neil Bascombe on to a stretcher

A kayaker has paid tribute to the RNLI after he said he was saved by their volunteers following a fall where he broke his spine and neck.

Neil Bascombe, 61, slipped and fell on rocks while climbing out of his kayak at Blackpool Sands, near Dartmouth, on 9 June.

His family contacted the coastguard and the RNLI rescued him.

Mr Bascombe, who had concussion after the fall, said he "would have drowned" if it was not for the "fantastic" RNLI.

He said he remembered being upside down with his head underwater after the fall.

"I was out of it and remember telling myself not to breathe in the water.

"I managed to haul myself on to a flat rock but my phone had gone into the sea.

"I was in so much pain, everything hurt. I couldn’t lift my head up or keep my eyes open," he said.

It was only after returning home that further investigations revealed Mr Bascombe had three breaks in his neck and two in his spine

He was out of sight when he fell but was eventually found by his son Marcus who was able to alert his family, who called the coastguard.

Dart RNLI’s D Class volunteer lifeboat crew managed to move Mr Bascombe on to a stretcher.

He was then transferred to the waiting Atlantic 85 lifeboat and transported to Dartmouth Embankment.

'Freeze to death'

Mr Bascombe said: "If I hadn't been rescued I wouldn't be here, I would have drowned.

"They were brilliant. I was so relieved when I knew I was not going to freeze to death. They did their utmost to keep me comfortable."

Mr Bascombe was taken to Torbay Hospital by ambulance and spent a week undergoing treatment and tests.

Mr Bascombe said he had three breaks in his neck and two in his spine.

"I feel very lucky that I’m still here and able to walk after the injuries," he said.

"I’m thankful that I’m still here. I was so immobile and creased up with pain in the cold.

"It’s going to take some time but I should eventually be back to normal."