How to Belay a Swimmer in a Kayak River Rescue

Video Transcript

"When expecting swimmers you really want to consider what's downstream of you and the ability to move around a little bit once they're on the end of that rope. Now, belaying a swimmer into an appropriate situation and bringing that pendulum swing into the shore is important to remember. You should be able to bring them either up stream or let them go downstream a little bit and that's why it's important to have some slack so that you can do that. If a swimmer is coming down this section of water, then you want to get the rope to them as quickly as possible. If however, you don't, then you want to consider a couple of options and make sure that you know what's downstream of you. "ROPE". In this instance the swimmer is being swung towards the under water rug so I can let out some rope so that she swings in below the boulder and that way she doesn't hit herself too hard. I can then slowly maneuver her into a position that's going to be more fitting to get her out of the water."