Dramatic images show the moment brave lifeboat crews rescued sailors as huge waves battered their grounded yacht.

Pictures show water crashing over the vessel about six miles off the coast of Walmer near Deal this morning.

The boat came aground taking on water at Goodwin Sands, a 10-mile long sand bed infamous for its toll of shipwrecks.

RNLI volunteers, including first-timer Rob Black, were called just before 7am today and arrived on the scene in 11 minutes.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Walmer’s Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan launched at 6.57am this morning (October 28) to an 11-metre yacht with three people on board aground on the Goodwin Sands and taking on water six miles east of the lifeboat station.

“The lifeboat arrived on the scene within 11 minutes.

“In a two-metre swell, the casualties were taken on board the lifeboat and given a health check before being transferred to Ramsgate lifeboat.

“Walmer's lifeboat was recovered ashore at 8.10am.”