FIVE people were rescued from a sinking speedboat by the crew of the Whitstable lifeboat. The lifeboat was diverted to the vessel while on its way to another call after the Herne Bay mobile coastguard reported that people were frantically bailing out water.

When the crew arrived on the scene the boat was partially submerged and the occupants were taken on board. The speedboat then capsized and was taken under tow to Reculver.

With the five people from the speedboat still on board, the lifeboat returned to its original call, to a broken down angling dinghy with three people on board.

It was towed to Herne Bay harbour and handed over to the Herne Bay mobile coastguard, with the eight people who were on the lifeboat.