A drenched sailor was rescued by lifeboat volunteers when his boat drifted off shore.

HM Coastguard tasked the RNLI lifeboat just after 2pm yesterday to the 7ft rubber dinghy.

The vessel was reported to have one person on board, eight miles north east of Dungeness.

The casualty was unable to paddle back to Folkestone after drifting.

Coxswain Stuart Adams, in charge of the RNLI Shannon class lifeboat The Morrell, and volunteer crew headed for the casualty’s position out at sea.

After assessing the situation, the crew recovered him and his vessel onto the lifeboat.

RNLI volunteers sought to make sure he was kept warm with blankets onboard after he was discovered very wet and cold.

He was handed over to the ambulance service on their return to the lifeboat station.

Coxswain Adams said: "The gentleman was very lucky to be spotted by a passing cabin cruiser who reported it to the coastguard."

Rich Airey, spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), said: "I can confirm that we attended the lifeboat station on Dungeness Road at following a call at approximately 2.50pm yesterday (Wednesday August 29) regarding concerns for the welfare of a man who had been brought to shore.

"The man was assessed at the scene but didn’t require further hospital treatment."