Wearing a lifejacket is being praised as the reason why a kayaker is alive after his kayak sunk when out fishing about 1.5km from Matata.

The man came into difficulty when he was retrieving a Kontiki fishing device at about 5pm.

He fell into the water and his kayak sunk soon after, with the alert for emergency services coming from members of the public observing the problem from the shore.

Police Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins says Edgecumbe Police, Matata Fire Brigade and members of the public responded and assisted in the rescue of the 47-year-old man.

'Whakatane Coastguard were immediately activated and deployed to the scene, whilst two volunteers from Matata Fire Service commandeered a dinghy which they launched from the beach,” says Bruce.

'A local helicopter crew were being scrambled and an Air Force Orion was on standby to assist given rescuers were racing to beat fading light.”

Bruce says the dinghy reached the man and managed to support him in the water until the Coastguard rescue boat arrived a few minutes later.

The man was taken ashore to an awaiting ambulance suffering from mild hyperthermia. He was transported to hospital but later discharged.

Police wish to thank those that assisted, including volunteers from the Matata Fire Service and Whakatane Coastguard, together with those that kept constant observations on the distressed kayaker from shore until rescue vessels could reach him.

'The fact this man was wearing a life jacket combined with the immediate and urgent response of his rescuers saved his life.”