TWO men had a lucky escape off Queenborough Creek on Sheppey when they struggled to bring a 17ft speedboat ashore.

The drama began as Paul Capie, of Lunsford Lane, Larkfield, was aboard the craft when it ran aground in a falling tide. Paul Woollett, of Harris Road, Sheerness, waded out to help but became trapped in mud. Eventually the anchor was dropped and both men were scrambling free when Mr Woollett suffered an asthma attack.

Sheerness firefighters and coastguards were standing by and Mr Woollett was treated for severe breathing difficulties.

Both men were taken by coastguards to the home of Mrs Lin Capie, of Edenbridge Drive, Sheerness.

Saturday's dramatic incident took another twist on Sunday morning when it was realised the boat was missing. Coastguard and lifeboat crews searched and found it near the Coalwasher at Rushenden and damage was minimal. The inshore lifeboat towed it back to the safety of the creek.