A Royal Navy ship connected to Kent saved five people in a dramatic ocean rescue.

The HMS Medway was conducting her first patrol of the year in the Caribbean when an ocean-going tug started to sink in choppy seas.

When the tug's engines failed after taking on water at around 5pm UK time (1pm local time), the vessel's crew sent out an SOS and took refuge on the barge of sand that it had been towing,

The Navy vessel, which is the force's permanent presence in the region, was around 12 miles away from the location, some 20 miles west of the island of Sint Maarten near to the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla.

After consulting with the regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Martinique, the ship altered course and increased speed, reaching the stricken tug and barge in about 20 minutes.

Battling against 30 knot winds, heavy showers and waves of up to 5ft, the vessel's sea boat was launched with boatswain Petty Officer (Seaman Specialist) Sarah Griffiths in charge.

“Whilst we were cautious as we made our approach to the barge and tug we were able to reassure the crew and transfer them clear of the barge safely. They were hugely grateful,” she said.

The five tug crew were not injured, but shaken and relieved to be rescued. They were carried back to HMS Medway before being handed over to a Search and Rescue boat from Anguilla which arrived as the rescue ended.

“The whole ship’s company leapt into action as soon as we made the decision to respond,” said Lieutenant Commander Carla Higgins, Medway’s Executive Officer in temporary command of the 2,000-tonne patrol ship.

“The swift thinking and actions of the team were fantastic and we were thankful to be conducting routine maritime security operations in the area to become the on-scene commander working with the local authorities and assist the crew to safety.”

This is the first call-out the Medway has attended in 2023.

Last autumn, the crew was involved in intercepting and chasing down a boat carrying £24m in cocaine.

In September, the crew was given the freedom of Medway Towns in a parade through Chatham.