A kayaker who was adrift at sea after he overturned has revealed that he was nearly hit by a shipping vessel's propeller after he tried to get its crew's attention but they failed to notice him.
Named as Mr Chen, 25, the outdoors enthusiast had been kayaking 14 nautical miles (26 kilometres) from Wai Lingding Island to Miaowan Island, near Zhuhai City in Guangdong province, in southern China, on 25th May.
He entered the water at around 7:40 am and had nearly reached his destination, where he intended to camp overnight.
But all of a sudden a wave overturned his kayak.
Mr Chen said: "A little after 1pm, I accidentally overturned my kayak because of a strong side wave."
He added: "When I picked up the paddle and was about to paddle back, the kayak had been pushed away."
Video shows the man in the water after being knocked over by the waves while kayaking in the waters of Wanshan District of Zhuhai in China, May 25, 2025. Fortunately he was wearing a life-jacket. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (AsiaWire/NX)
He quickly realised that he was in a very serious situation "because the food, drinks, and various rescue supplies were originally on the boat. These things drifted away in front of me with the boat."
Mr Chen said that he first thought of trying to make it to the shore, which was only three or four kilometres away.
But he said: "But I found that the countercurrent was a bit strong. No matter how I rowed, I basically stayed in the same place. I had no choice but to give up this plan."
Picture shows Mr. Chen's kayak, undated. Fortunately he was wearing a life-jacket when he fell from the kayak in the waters of Wanshan District of Zhuhai in China, May 25, 2025. Note: Private photo. (AsiaWire/NX)
He said that he then thought of trying to flag down passing ships, saying: "I was far away from the channel at the time, so I wanted to row to the vicinity of the channel and seek help from large ships."
But he said that a cargo ship passed by him and did not even notice him. He said that he was nearly hit by the vessel's propeller.
He said: "The propeller of the large ship almost rolled me in."
He still had his mobile phone with him but was nearly out of battery and had no signal.
Picture shows the silk banner Mr. Chen sent to the rescue units in Zhuhai in China, undated. Fortunately he was wearing a life-jacket. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (AsiaWire/NX)
Mr Chen said: "I took two photos and turned it off immediately to keep the battery charged."
The outdoors enthusiast said that he was desperate at the time.
In such an environment, the biggest dangers were dehydration and hypothermia. However, he was surrounded by seawater and nothing else, so he was forced to float on the sea.
He said: "I floated for about five hours, and I felt a little cold and very thirsty."
But he eventually managed to contact a friend to raise the alarm with the coastguard, and after they deployed four vessels to his location, he was finally rescued after seven hours in the water, with video footage showing him adrift at sea and then apparently filming a rescue helicopter above him.
After being rescued, he sent his rescuers a thank-you banner reading "I will never forget your life-saving grace."
He also said that he got in trouble with his girlfriend and has had to promise to never return to the sea in a kayak, according to local media reports.
(Joseph Golder / newsX)