Story submitted by reader Josh B.
A marker light can be a real life-saver when out on the water. I should know. A marker light once helped rescuers save me.
I should probably give some context though. I love kayaking. It doesn’t matter where I’m kayaking: on a river, lake, ocean, pond, rapids, anything. However, on this particular day, I was out on a lake in Maine. Now, it was by no means the most desolate place in the world (thankfully) but, as is the case with most of Maine, it was not a very “high traffic” place either.
I was having a lovely day out on the lake too. Nice clear sky, slight breeze, and not too hot. Essentially the perfect weather for a guy like me. However, out of nowhere the wind picked up, and it did so with force. All of a sudden I wasn’t simply paddling around, and a wave caught me sideways knocking me out of my kayak and filling it with water. I had my life jacket on of course, so I could largely float here, but the kayak itself sunk.
And then, with a splash, there was my marker light. It had floated back to the surface, just as it was supposed to do. I swam over to it and kept it with me as it flashed and flashed, indicating my predicament. Luckily I did not have to wait too long for rescue, as a man on a motor boat came by shortly and picked me up. Yet, I can only imagine how long I may have waited if it weren’t for that light.
Marker Lights 