A MAN out duck shooting on the Hoo Peninsula near Rochester had to be rescued by a lifeboat crew after he was cut off by the tide.

Alston Wheeler, from Hythe, had a dog, Bibo, which he kept clear of the water on Stoke Marshes, by carrying it round his neck. The dog was also rescued during the drama which happened on Saturday.

A coastguard spokesman said the man made a 999 call from his mobile phone after water came in up to his waist. A helicopter from Suffolk was scrambled, the Sheerness Lifeboat was alerted, and Medway Coastguard, the Ambulance Service and the police were contacted.

The lifeboat reached him first and the crew was able to pull both Mr Wheeler and his dog to safety. “He was cold, wet and very frightened when we got to him,” said lifeboat helmsman Richard Hughes.

“The biggest problem we had was getting to him because the mud makes it difficult to get the boat close in. After that we took him ashore where there was an ambulance waiting. He was bordering on hypothermia.

“The tide rips in pretty fast in those parts, so it’s important for people to be aware of that and to keep an eye on the situation.”

Mr Wheeler was treated for shock by paramedics at the scene.