A man has died after the dinghy he was in capsized off the Kent coast.

The alarm was raised at about 3.30am today by a man, who had managed to swim ashore at Whitstable and knock on someone's door.

The search involved Coastguard Rescue teams from Herne Bay, Sheppey and Margate, with three RNLI Lifeboats from Whitstable and Sheerness and the independent lifeboat Evolution.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham was also scrambled.

Rescuers heard that the man and a friend had sailed a small dinghy from Whitstable at 10am yesterday, but capsized just before darkness.

The one who came ashore was transferred to hospital, but his friend was pronounced dead at the scene.