A woman clawed through mud for two hours to raise the alarm after the boat she and two others were travelling in sank.

Sheppey Coastguard said she was aboard a cabin cruiser with a father and son when it “disappeared beneath” them at about 3pm yesterday near Bee Ness Jetty off Kingsnorth.

The trio managed to swim to shore, but as the tide was out, they became stuck in mud.

The woman struggled to the jetty where she was able to call emergency services from a handheld VHF radio.

The father and son were picked up by Southend Hovercraft and transferred by Sheerness Lifeboat to the Island’s station.

At 1.25am, HM Coastguard Sheppey was contacted to set up a helicopter landing site so the woman could be airlifted to Sheerness for treatment.

A chopper from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk transported her to New Road Playing Fields where an ambulance was on standby.

She was treated for shock and hypothermia and transferred to Medway Maritime Hospital along with the other two patients.

Their boat, which had been discovered three miles from its original location, was towed to Sheerness.

Sheppey Coastguard rescue officer, James Crane, said the trio had a lucky escape after spending nearly 12 hours in exposed conditions.

“Had they not left their radio in the car before they set out it is thought that they would have been able to raise the alarm a lot quicker,” he said.

“They were all fortunate they were wearing life preservers which aided their survival efforts.”