A drunk man in his 30s has become the fifth person this summer to be rescued by Dover Sea Sports from the harbour.

The man, who is believed to have been drinking vodka with friends and family on the beach, was spotted by the safety team at about 5pm yesterday.

He was clinging onto a buoy about 300m out and waving his arms for help.

Company director of Dover Marine Services James Salmon said: “Our staff were packing up when they spotted him. They immediately launched our safety boat and pulled him out of the water.

"He was fine but so drunk that he wasn’t really aware of what had happened" - James Salmon

“He had some family and friends on the beach who told us he had been drinking and made the foolish decision to go into the water.

“He was fine but so drunk that he wasn’t really aware of what had happened."

The man was the fifth person to be pulled from the water by them, this year.

“It’s been packed all summer, with hundreds down here most days. We’ve not known a summer like it,” Mr Salmon added.

This incident and the loss of five lives at Camber Sands earlier this week has prompted the centre to highlight the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign.

Mr Salmon said: “People need to remember that Dover is safe water to swim in but there is no lifeguard service.”

Dover RNLI’s media officer Ed Baker has praised the actions of Dover Sea Sports.

“The bottom line is people should Respect The Water and not go out of their depth, exceed their ability or swim intoxicated.” - Ed Baker

He is also reminding people not to go out of their depth, exceed their ability or swim intoxicated.

He said: “The East Kent coast from Sandwich round to Dover has a very strong tidal stream, with areas along the shoreline of changing gradients, depths of water in shore with shallow areas which mean rip currents along the shore are very common.

“The pier in particular is a dangerous area suffering from Topographic rips found on beaches with headlands, rock outcrops or coastal structures. This means swimming close to the pier is dangerous.

“Dover Harbour is actually the safest coastal waters to swim in, although not an RNLI life-guarded beach; the tidal streams are much weaker with less of a backwash from the shore.

“The bottom line is people should Respect The Water and not go out of their depth, exceed their ability or swim intoxicated.”

Mr Baker said a rip current can move at 4.5mph - faster than an Olympic swimmer.

He added: “The sea can be unpredictable and rip currents can quickly drag even the strongest swimmers out of their depth.

“If you find yourself caught in a rip, stay calm, don’t panic; swim parallel to the shore until you’re free of the rip.

“If you’re in difficulty, raise your arm and shout for help.

"If you see someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.”

If you’re heading to the coast, visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards can see you."

Find a full list of life-guarded beaches click here.