A teenager pulled his mum from underneath a capsized boat during a family sailing trip in Whitstable.

Steve and Susan Scales and their 18-year-old son Liam, from Doddington, were sailing to Herne Bay when their boat turned over 300 yards off Tankerton Bay Sailing Club at 3pm.

The trio were all wearing life jackets but Mrs Scales had to be pulled from under the boat by her son after becoming trapped.

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She said: "It all happened so quickly, the boat flipped up and I was trapped underneath. All I could think was, where were Steve and Liam.

“It felt like a long time trying to get out and I heard my husband calling me, then I felt Liam pull me from under the boat and there was a great sense of relief.

“Coastwatch had raised the alarm and a man in a sailing dinghy came out to help when the lifeboat also arrived.”

Mr Scales said his family found themselves in trouble after hitting a wave in choppy waters.

He said: "Basically progress back to Herne Bay was difficult when a wave caught the boat. It rolled over and we went into the water.

"I think we were only in the water for about 10 minutes but there was relief and appreciation when the lifeboat arrived. They were very good and professional."

Liam added: "I was pitched into the water and I heard dad ask where mum was. I was able to feel under the boat and fortunately found mum."

Whitstable RNLI Helmsman Dave Parry says the lifeboat was launched at 3.09pm after receiving several alerts from the Thames Coastguard.

He said: "Fortunately all three were wearing lifejackets, which undoubtedly prevented the situation from becoming more serious.

"Liam had managed to get his mother from under the craft and all three were alongside the boat when we arrived.

"We quickly got Mrs Scales and her family onboard the lifeboat and placed her in a thermal blanket before righting their boat, and taking all ashore to Neptune Harbour, where we were met by the Herne Bay Coastguard, who assisted in getting all ashore."

Video: Rescuers help out the Scales family after their boat capsizes