A father and two sons who got into difficulty in the sea off Kingsdown have been rescued by a Walmer RNLI lifeboat crew after a day out in a dinghy and kayak.

Walmer Lifeboat crew has praised the family for wearing life jackets, and a reminder has been issued to sea users to ensure they always wear them on the water.

The volunteers were paged just after 2.20pm yesterday to help a sailing dingy with two people on board and a canoeist half a mile east of The Zetland Arms at Kingsdown.

Walmer Lifeboat spokeswoman Victoria Brophy said: “The coastguard requested the launch of Walmer’s D class lifeboat Duggie Rodbard after several 999 calls were received from concerned onlookers.

“All of the casualties involved were wearing life-jackets and this certainly helped in the moderate sea conditions with a strengthening wind" Helmsman Adam Cowell

“A sailing dingy which had left the beach at Walmer earlier with a father and teenage son on board found themselves in difficulty after capsizing.

“Seeing that his father and brother were having difficulty, another teenage member of the family launched his kayak and paddled out to help.”

She said the canoeist also fell into the water when he reached the dinghy.

The mother, watching from the beach, was the first to dial 999 to request help.

Miss Brophy added: “The lifeboat was quickly on scene and the three casualties were taken on board.

“All three were suffering the effects of mild hypothermia and two were beginning to feel sea sick.

“The lifeboat made its way back to the lifeboat station where the casualties were brought ashore and met by a waiting ambulance crew. “After receiving treatment for their hypothermia and being checked over by the paramedics the family were able to make their way home.

Walmer lifeboat helmsman Adam Cowell said: “The good weather has encouraged more people out onto our coastal waters, weather conditions can be unpredictable and it is essential that people take the necessary precautions to make sure that they are safe.

“All of the casualties involved were wearing life-jackets and this certainly helped in the moderate sea conditions with a strengthening wind.

“The right decision was made by the mother and other onlookers to dial 999 and ask for help,” he said.