In a coastal emergency
Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard
For someone in danger in the water or on the shoreline, ask for the Coastguard — not just "ambulance". The Coastguard coordinates lifeboats, lifeguards and rescue helicopters. On VHF, use Channel 16.
Kitesurfing Incidents: A Guide for First Responders
For RNLI crews, lifeguards, ambulance, HEMS and coastguard teams attending a kitesurfing incident: what the equipment is, where the hazards are, and how to make it safe. Equipment facts from BKSA and IKO published material; sources linked at the bottom.
Understanding kitesurf equipment
- 1Kite
- 2Flying lines
- 3Control bar
- 4Quick release
- 5Safety leash
- 6Harness
- 7Board
What you'll find on the casualty
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Harness, chicken loop & leash
A harness around the waist or seat with a metal hook or spreader bar at the front. The kite attaches to it via the chicken loop (a rubber-coated loop at the hook) and, separately, a safety leash. Harnesses open with ordinary buckles or velcro; they can also be cut.
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The lines — and a separate board
20–25 m of near-invisible line (up to 40 m) between the rider and the kite — thin, non-stretch and extremely strong. The board is usually not attached to the rider and may be some distance away.
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Wetsuit, helmet & impact vest
A thick neoprene wetsuit, which slows heat loss and adds buoyancy but must be cut for chest access — and the chest dried before defibrillator pads go on. A helmet and impact vest may be worn.
Scene hazards
- Never grab or step over lines under tension — a loaded kite line cuts like cheese wire. Deal with the kite before approaching along the line path.
- A downed kite is not a safe kite. Inflatable kites hold their shape and can re-power without warning in a gust, dragging whatever is attached to them — including a casualty. Assume any kite still connected to lines is live.
Making a kite safe
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If the casualty is still attached
The quick release is on the chicken loop, directly in front of the harness hook — pushing or pulling its collar (designs vary, but it is built to be obvious and one-handed) "flags" the kite onto a single line and dumps nearly all its power. A second release where the safety leash meets the harness separates the rider from the kite completely.
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A loose kite on the beach
Approach the canopy, not the lines. Weight the centre of the canopy down with sand, or kill it fully by opening the inflation valve on the leading edge and letting it deflate. Many riders carry a line cutter in the harness if lines must be cut — cut well away from the casualty.
Air ambulance / helicopter operations
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Landing area
A HEMS helicopter needs roughly a 25 m × 25 m clear area to land, and bystanders clearing the space quickly makes the difference (London's Air Ambulance guidance).
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Kites and rotor wash don't mix
Downwash will lift and launch any rigged or loosely-secured kite on the beach. Before a helicopter arrives: deflate kites or bury canopy edges in sand, and clear boards and loose gear from the landing area — an airborne kite with 25 m of line is a serious hazard to the aircraft.
Riding here yourself?
The pre-session checklist, your safety system, Float to Live and first aid basics — the rider guide.
Sources & further reading
This page is an educational summary compiled from the linked organisations' published guidance. It is not a substitute for first aid training, professional medical advice, or the full guidance of those organisations — and in an emergency, always follow the instructions of the emergency services. Spotted an error? Please get in touch.