FOUR people had to be rescued from the freezing Thames after their yacht sank today.

A father, 45, and his 15-year-old daughter were pulled from the water by Gravesend's RNLI crew suffering from shock and dangerously low body temperatures.

Two 19-year-old men, who were knee deep in mud, were helped back to the lifeboat by helmsman Dave Greenfield.

The 27 ft yacht sunk in just 10 seconds after striking an uknown object sumbmerged in the murky water.

See this week's Gravesend Messenger out Thursday, February 19 for full story and pictures.