A man in his 50s died after entering the water near Wellington Parade in Kingsdown in an attempt to save his dog.

The police were called at 1pm to The Strand in Walmer near Deal on Sunday, where lifeboat crews recovered him.

He was then airlifted to the QEQM hospital in Margate where he later died.

The crew was able to rescue the dog, reportedly a black Labrador, who also died.

It is thought the man lived locally.

An RNLI spokesperson said: “Volunteer lifeboat crew from Walmer RNLI launched on Sunday to a report from the Coastguard of a man in the water at Kingsdown on the Kent coast.

“On arrival the lifeboat crew quickly located the man and brought him aboard.

"They immediately began CPR and continued to do so as the lifeboat returned to station.

“Once back on land, the man was taken aboard a coastguard helicopter which flew him to hospital.

"We were sadly later informed that he died and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

The death is not being treated as suspicious.