The Coast Guard is saying a man is lucky to be alive after he attempted to travel from California to Hawaii in a kayak.

The 57-year-old man left Monterey on May 30 and planned on making the 2,400 mile journey to Hawaii in only a kayak.

The craft he was paddling was equipped with a solar panel to power the electronics on board. However, 8 days into the trip, the solar panel malfunctioned and the man turned around to head back to California.

On June 10, the man realized that he was not capable of making the trip back in his kayak, and sent up a distress signal. “A distress call was made on June 10th as the man started to become disoriented,” the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.

After locating the distress signal, a MH-65 helicopter was sent from Los Angeles to find the man. The helicopter spotted him approximately 60 miles southwest of Santa Barbara’s Point Conception, and directed the USCG Cutter Aspen to pick him up. When they finally reached him, the man was found in good health and with no injuries.

“A voyage from California to Hawaii is a long and treacherous journey for any vessel and exponentially more dangerous for a kayaker,” Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Hall said. Hall says that being prepared, and having the distress signal on board, saved his life. “His preparedness allowed him to call for help but he is very lucky to be alive.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons