Five men sparked a rescue operation when their boats capsized on the River Medway.

The Thames Coastguard received a 999 call at 2pm on Sunday when two small rowing boats got caught up in the strong winds near Damhead Creek.

The men onboard, aged 53 to 73, were thrown into the water when the vessels overturned. Four were able to swim ashore to a nearby jetty where they were picked up by the Medway Coastguard.

The fifth man, aged 73, was too weak to swim to the shore so clung to one of the boats.

The boat was eventually brought back to the shore with the tide by about 5pm and the pensioner was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital suffering from hypothermia.

The other four casualties were treated for mild hypothermia by the South East Coast Ambulance Service.