Lifeboat crews were called out following reports of a boat sinking in the Medway.

The crew in Sheerness were called from the UK Coastguard requesting that the All Weather Lifeboat be launched to a 30 foot cabin cruiser reported to be sinking with six people on board in the area of number 25 buoy on the River Medway.

The crew had initially been mobilised at 2.13pm on Monday when a jet-skier was reported an hour overdue, and had just been stood down following the jet-skier's safe return, when they were called to the sinking boat at around 3pm.

That meant they were able to launch immediately and found the stricken vessel sitting low in the water under tow by another boat, whose crew had reported the situation.

The lifeboat was secured alongside the casualty and the crew then deployed their onboard salvage pump in the craft's flooded engine bay.

The vessel was towed slowly to Gillingham Marina where it was handed over to the marina workboat.

Water was still being pumped from the vessel until it was lifted from the water in the marina boat hoist.

The lifeboat was stood down at 4.54pm and back on station at 5.30pm.

With warm weather and easing of lockdown restrictions the Sheerness lifeboat crew say they have been called out to a variety of incidents, and have asked day trippers to take extra care by the coast.

RNLI spokesman Vic Booth said: "At present there are no RNLI lifeguards on beaches and although our volunteer lifeboat crews are fully operational, should they be needed, it is important that anyone visiting the coast understands the risk and takes the necessary steps to keep themselves safe. This will also help to reduce the demands placed on our lifeboat crews and other emergency services including HM Coastguard. In this way we can all work together to succeed in ensuring the coast is a safe place to visit."

RNLI safety advice includes:

• Take care near cliffs - know your route and your limitations

• Have a plan - check the weather forecast and tide times

• If you fall into the water unexpectedly, 'float to live'. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and float.

Read more: all the latest news from Medway