French Caïs (18) got stuck on a rock, the rock after two days – NRK Vestland

– I’m lucky, says Caïs Chevrillot.

After several dramatic days on a mountain ledge in Aurland, he is safely back at the Sogndal bus station.

It could still be different.

For almost a month, the 18-year-old has been touring Norway. This week he decided to see the Nærøyfjord from his green kayak.

On Wednesday morning he left Gudvangen in Aurland. The idea was to float down the fjord for a couple of hours and finish in Flåm.

It didn’t get that far.

– It was such high waves. The kayak filled with water and my things got wet. I decided to go ashore and wait a couple of hours.

No food or drink

When the sea did not calm down, he chose to spend the night on a rock. He was wearing a thin sleeping bag and he built a fire to keep warm.

When he woke up, the kayak was gone.

During the night, his phone also lost power. Therefore, he was not allowed to warn anyone that he was in danger.

The 18-year-old was trapped on the cliff for three days and two nights.

– I had no food or drink, just a packet of Pringles. I didn’t eat anything for two days, he says.

After a quarter of an hour, he managed to unscrew the battery from the PC and connect the phone charger so he could charge the phone and call his parents for help.

He was afraid of dying and was forced to try.

– That’s why I live, he says.

Found position

Only on Friday night were the Norwegian Naudetans notified of the kayaker’s disappearance.

– I had received a message from some French parents, who were in France. They were concerned about the area he rowed in Norway, says rescue leader Eirik Walle at the Main Rescue Center in southern Norway.

Parents were able to see the last position of the zone. This was used to find it.

– With the help of intelligence and mobile technology, we discovered that the mobile was on the network. After a quarter of an hour we managed to get in touch with him.

Poor visibility

Tenant Vidar Trettenes at Sogn Fire and Rescue said they were sent to find the man.

– HRS had a coverage area for a possible mobile phone in this area. We received this map and found it in the Beitelen area, at the junction between Aurlandsfjorden and Nærøyfjorden.

When rescue teams approached this area, they saw a light. Then they drove there by boat and found the Frenchman.

– It was dark and with poor visibility, but we found it by the light it had. He had no food or drink, but he must have been well dressed. He also got a bathing suit that we had on the boat.

The thirteenth victory that man found in one of the oldest parts of the fjord.

– There is little coverage in the area, and it is clear that he would have been in trouble if he had not been able to draw the attention of boat traffic or in some other way.

I could lose my life

– I was very happy when I saw them. If I had stayed longer, I would have died, says Caïs.

After the rescue operation, he was accommodated in a hotel in Sogndal and food was served.

Despite a terrifying experience, he will continue to tour Norway. The 18-year-old does not rule out more kayak trips.

– Now I no longer have a kayak, but if I borrow one, maybe, he laughs.