A shipwrecked solo sailor is lucky to be alive after his luxury yacht smashed onto rocks beneath the White Cliffs of Dover.

The man, who has not been named, managed to jump overboard near the South Foreland Lighthouse.

He swam ashore, climbed over chalk boulders and made it along the beach before staggering onto the seafront at St Margaret's.

Andy Roberts, from Walmer Lifeboat, said: "He will never know how lucky he was to survive all that.

"It could have happened when the tide was in, so could never have walked to safety."

He was hypothermic and unconscious when he was taken to hospital and has now been released.

The drama started on Wednesday afternoon last week when a south-westerly gale blew up along the east Kent coast.

It is believed the 29ft yacht, built in 1963, was caught in the high winds and blown onto rocks beneath the cliffs.

Mr Roberts added: "There was no distress call, no-one saw the vessel and he was alone in the boat, which was a beautifully maintained craft built in 1965. Its bow is now split open.

"That stretch of coastline from where the yacht hit the rocks is extremely difficult terrain for anyone to negotiate.

"The sailor also faced the danger of an incoming tide."

It is thought the man had set off East Anglia and was on his way to north Wales.

Mr Roberts advised that anyone taking on a single-handed journey at sea had to be aware of the possible dangers.

He added that salvage contracts between the insurers and the appointed surveyor were being discussed with Dover Marine Services and under maritime law the vessel was not considered abandoned.