by Alan McGuinness and Sam Lennon

A quick-thinking yacht passenger has described how he saved the life of a teenager who nearly drowned after falling from a boat.

The 18-year-old was minutes from death after he plunged from the back of the vessel on Saturday evening.

Gareth Jackson, 37, a Dover Harbour worker, was on the yacht Christia Deana, with Dean Cox (pictured above) when he heard a loud splash just before 7pm at Stangate Creek in the River Medway near Iwade, Swale.

When it became clear the teenager was in trouble, Mr Jackson quickly sprung into action.

He threw the teenager a life ring and gave him first aid once he was brought on board.

Mr Jackson, who works on a pilot launch for Dover Harbour Board, said: “If he had been in the water a minute or two longer he would have been a goner. He’s a very lucky boy.

“He went under a few times and it turned out he swallowed a lot of water.”

Once the teenager was ashore he was met by the Sheppey coastguard and paramedics.

Full the full story see this week's Dover Mercury.