SALEM (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) A Salem man is thankful that he took extra safety precautions before heading for the water in his kayak.
Sal Presti is survived a terrifying incident in the waters off Deer Island on Thursday all because he chose to do everything by the book.
Sal was leaning over the side of his kayak adjusting his fishing pole when a wave flipped the boat.
"The lean, the wave the high center of gravity in this kayak, it just, in one motion, next thing I knew I was in the water," says Sal.
Luckily, Sal was properly outfitted for it. His lifejacket was on, complete with a whistle he used to try to get the attention of nearby boaters. Sal also had a dry suit on so he never got wet. His safety wear was topped off with a VHF radio attached to him.
Within moments one of the vessels came to Sal's aid. A Coast Guard team was training nearby when the call came in.
"I was relieved because I knew I wasn't going to have to swim back to shore," says Sal.
Coast Guard spokesman Adam Stanton reaffirms the importance of taking precautions before taking to the water. He also congratulates Sal for his use of the lifejacket and radio.
"Those two items are key items for saving your life," says Stanton.
Stanton adds that boaters need to make sure these items are maintained and that they're up to specifications.
Cox Media Group
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