Dramatic pictures show a person being winched from a cruise ship.

A helicopter was seen rescuing the passenger from the vessel earlier today.

Coastguard and RNLI services were called between 7am and 7.30am to the Ambassador Experience ship, docked at the Tilbury Cruise Terminal, across the river from Gravesend.

A spokesman for the cruise company confirmed one person has been evacuated due to a medical emergency, but would not comment further.

A witness observed everything from across the river at Gravesend with his binoculars.

He said: "A coastguard helicopter began repeatedly moving up and down the river between the Port of London Authority and the bend in the river. As it did so, it reduced its altitude eventually coming to a hover in the middle of the river on the port stern (left rear) of the ship.

"As I watched through my binoculars, I could see emergency service personnel on the top deck with a coastguard member and shortly after the coastguard member was lifted alongside a stretcher with a person inside."

He added: "I cannot say what the incident was caused by, but I can tell you it was a medical emergency and the Ambassador Ambience came into the London Ferry Terminal Tilbury very quickly escorted by a tug and the coastguard helicopter.

"Everyone on the ship seemed relatively relaxed but I was observing from across the river. A Gravesend RNLI lifeboat was also at the scene."

A spokesman for RNLI said: "At around 7am to 7.30am, the Gravesend lifeboat crew was tasked to assist the HM Coastguard with a medical emergency at Tilbury Cruise Terminal.

"The casualty was a passenger on the Ambassador Ambiance ship, and the coastguard had to take them with the helicopter because it was time critical for them to receive medical help so they couldn't wait for an ambulance. The Gravesend RNLI lifeboat crew offered safety cover only."