DOVER lifeboat crew and Coastguard officers helped rescue a man who suffered a heart problem while walking along the beach between Dover and Folkestone.

East Kent Coastguard Sector Manager Andy Roberts, said: “The location where he was recovered from is extremely inaccessible and involved a mile walk by the Coastguard team over rocks, beach and shingle. The only means of evacuation was by sea."

The alarm was first raised just before 3pm on Tuesday by the man’s son who became concerned about his 67-year-old father’s health during the walk. He feared he was having a heart attack.

They were between Folkestone and Samphire Hoe at the time, and Folkestone Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to the scene, making their way along The Warren, while Mr Roberts tried to get to the beach from Samphire Hoe.

Dover Lifeboat was launched with a paramedic on board. Coastguard officers reached the man first and stabilised him before helping him down the beach to the lifeboat. The man was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Mr Roberts added: "I would like to thank my colleagues in the lifeboat service for responding so promptly, and my Coastguard colleagues who made their way along the beach in double quick time in order to assist in getting this man to hospital.”