Salt Creek local says visitors must be prepared when adventuring in the Coorong, but man not at fault

This Salt Creek local has helped out with countless rescues in his region, where a kayaker was found after an expensive police search, and has advice for other people exploring the area.

A man on a solo kayaking trip along the Coorong who failed to check in with his wife cost taxpayers thousands of dollars, as an alert sparked search efforts including a police helicopter.

The man, aged in his 70s, began his trip on Monday but by Wednesday police had issued a public alert as the man had stopped making regular contact and he was considered missing.

The Advertiser understands a police helicopter was used in the search for close to two hours and that the operational cost is about $4000 an hour.

A police boat was also used.

Locals said parts of the area are mobile phone dead zones so the man should have used a satellite phone.

Police said that just after 11pm on Wednesday night they were “able to make contact with the man by phone and confirm he was safe”.

Officers then sighted the man on Thursday morning, near Long Island in the Coorong.

He was heading in the Salt Creek direction.

Long Island is roughly 30km from the nearest town of Salt Creek, on a stretch of the Coorong ensconced by native bushland, making it difficult to see the river from the highway.

Adam Stewart is a Salt Creek local who helps out in many rescues in the Coorong. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Salt Creek local Adam Stewart, 50, said kayakers often passed through the town on the last leg of their journey.

Having lived there for 16 years, by his count he has been involved in “at least half a dozen water rescues” and “hundreds” of land searches.

“You’ve got to be pretty switched on if you’re heading out here,” Mr Stewart said.

“There’s not much here unless you can rely on yourself – there’s not even a place to get a coffee, you’ve got to bring everything with you.

“You’ve got to be prepared to be out in the sticks and self-reliant.”

Mr Stewart said there were several known black spots for mobile reception between Salt Creek and Meningie.

“I think (the kayaker’s) wife might be a bit dirty with him, but it’s not his fault he was out of phone range,” he said.

“It probably just shows the old chook still loves him.”

Police are searching the Coorong for a missing kayaker. The man, aged in his 70s, set off on a kayaking trip along the Coorong on Monday. The alarm was raised today after he stopped making regular contact. Picture: SA Police

Long Island is located along the Coorong near Salt Creek.

The man, aged in his 70s, set off on a kayaking trip along the Coorong on Monday. The alarm was raised after he stopped making regular contact. Picture: SA Police

Coorong landowner Geoff Gallasch said the situation could have been avoided if the man had a satellite phone.

“It should be put on the (Department for Environment and Water) website ... that if you’re going canoeing, be prepared and take a satellite phone, if you’re going over an extended period,” he said.

Canoe the Coorong owner and operator Brenton Carle said there were a number of areas along the 145km system that had patchy mobile reception.

He said in those areas, people would have to climb atop the dunes in order to get service.

Mr Carle, who has worked on the Coorong for 14 years, said the waters were generally quite shallow but white caps – or rougher waves – could flare if the easterly winds picked up.

“The white caps can be challenging,” he said.

However, because the Coorong was quite narrow, anyone on the water would only need to paddle about 100m to reach the shore, and safety, if they hit rough weather, he said.

Mr Carle said it was common for people to set out on multiple-night journeys and camp along the beaches. He strongly recommended anyone on those types of expeditions have regular check-in times with friends or family.

Mr Carle said there had been times when his own phone had got wet or the battery had run out of charge.

“But it’s important to have that (check-in) plan,” he said.