A TEACHER’S kayaking trip with his son ended in drama when they rescued a stranded walker trapped by the rising tide.

George Monk, 40, who teaches physics at St Edmund’s School, Canterbury, took up kayaking a year ago because he was “bored and wanted some excitement”.

But he got more than he bargained for when he ventured out round the cliff-faced coast between Dover and Deal with his 17-year-old son Samuel.

The pair were nearing the end of a two-hour trip when they decided on one last paddle around one more bay.

Mr Monk, of Giles Lane, Canterbury, said: “It was about 6pm, almost high tide and time to call it a day. I’d say it was a miracle we decided to go west just to round things off.”

They spotted a man at the foot of a cliff trapped on a thin strip of beach not yet claimed by the rising tide.

According to Mr Monk, the man, who appeared to be “in his late thirties”, was so dishevelled he did not spot the two kayakers until they had paddled right up to him.

He said: “He was staggering and stumbling through the waves and falling over. I think he was exhausted. I shouted that we could rescue him.”

Mr Monk instructed the man to straddle the rear of the craft facing backwards, before he pushed the kayak off from the shore and hauled himself back on.

“It was only when we were out to sea that he told me he was a weak swimmer,” said Mr Monk. “He really was very shaken up.”

The 200-yard trip back to St Margaret’s Bay should only have taken three minutes but ended up taking 15.

Safely back on shore there was relief, but no revelations as to the identity of the rescued man.

Mr Monk said: “I asked him his name but he just said he was fine and wanted to walk back to his car, gather his thoughts and go home. He did say thank-you though.”