Three people were winched to safety by RAF helicopter from a boat stranded in the River Medway.

Medway Coastguard were called at around 11.30pm on Tuesday after getting 999 calls about a fishing boat stuck in mud.

Initial reports indicated the three people were about 30 yards from the shore.

But when coastguard crews arrived at the scene, just off Copperhouse Lane, Gillingham, the boat was actually around half a mile from the coast.

They were unable to help further and instead they called for assistance from the RAF.

The Sea King was launched from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk and air-lifted the trio to safety.

Richard Rodgers, deputy station officer for Medway Coastguard, said: "The three people had been in the boat for four-five hours.

"One man had been in the mud and was suffering from hypothermia and another was passing in and out of consciousness.

"We can only really go 200 metres from the shore, we called in the Sea King because otherwise we would have been putting more lives at risk."

All three were then taken to hospital in Southend, Essex for treatment. Their current condition has not been confirmed.

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