A SEA search successfully found a woman swimmer lost off Deal in the early hours of today.

Both Walmer lifeboats were launched in thunder and lightening after a member of the public telephoned the Coastguard to report that a woman was believed to be in the water off Deal beach.

A pile of clothes was found on the pebbles north of the pier and within 15 minutes she was found in a distressed state, having made her own way ashore after being carried along the beach by the tide.

The woman, thought to be in her early 30s, was taken by ambulance to the Queen Mother Hospital at Margate.