British windsurfer rescued after 32 hours at sea

A lucky-to-be-alive windsurfer relived his ordeal from a hospital bed Thursday following his rescue after floating adrift in the Irish Sea for 32 hours.

Matthew Bryce, rescued by a search helicopter, is still recovering in hospital in Northern Ireland after being spotted floating on his surfboard 21 kilometers off the coast of Scotland. His ordeal had lasted 32 hours.

From his hospital bed in Belfast, Bryce, aged 23, told local radio how he watched the sun set, believing he would not survive another night at sea.

Bryce, from North Lanarkshire, Scotland, set off on his surfboard Sunday in what he said was just a normal day.

He said he had gone into the sea Sunday morning to catch some waves, but the day soon turned into a nightmare as he began to panic when the tide and winds carried him out to sea.

"The wind and water was just relentless," said Bryce, adding that at one point he got back to within about 1.6 kilometers of land, only for the tide to change direction.

"It got to the point where my paddling was ineffective, but I was doing it to keep myself warm," said Bryce.

"It was incredibly lonely and quiet because there was just nothing, just waves," he said, "I was thinking I was going to die, I was almost convinced. I didn't think I would see sunrise."

He paddled towards a shipping lane, hoping he would be spotted, but during the daylight he started to pass out and fall off his surfboard.

Saying he was resigned for death, Bryce added: "I knew I wasn't going to make another night, so I was watching the sunset. Then a helicopter flew over me, a beautiful sight."

At one point he thought the helicopter had not spotted him in the water, but said the moment he saw them turn around was indescribable.

He was winched from by a search and rescue helicopter at about 19:30 on Monday.

Police Scotland and the coastguard had already launched a large-scale search earlier that day after being alerted that Bryce was missing at sea.

Bryce's parents were praying he would be found alive, but were starting to prepare for the worse, even down to deciding who would identify his body when he was eventually found.

Dawn Petrie from Belfast Coastguard Operations Center who who coordinated the search for Bryce, said: "Hope was fading of finding him safe and well after such a long period in the water and with nightfall approaching, we were gravely concerned. The crew on the Coastguard rescue helicopter were delighted when they located him still with his surf board and 13 miles off the coast."

"He was kitted out with all the right clothing including a thick neoprene suit and this must have helped him to survive for so long at sea." Endit