A teenager and a “frightened” seven-year-old girl had to be rescued after they were found a mile offshore on a paddleboard.

The Whitstable RNLI was called out yesterday (August 25) afternoon to Minster on Sheppey.

The crew was already at sea at around 4pm for an exercise when they were sent to the incident.

It also involved the Sheerness all-weather lifeboat and the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team, as well as the Dover Coastguard, which dispatched a helicopter from Lydd.

Ben Crosswell, Whitstable lifeboat helmsman said: “We arrived on scene and located the pair, two girls, about a mile offshore.

“They were cold, wet and the youngest was visibly frightened.

“The eldest had done a good job trying to stay calm and reassure the younger one.

“I spoke with the mother onshore who was so thankful and overwhelmed with relief when we brought them back.”

It comes after a family of five had to be rescued by the RNLI and coastguard after they became cut off by the tide.

Two parents and three children managed to climb partially up a cliff on Friday (August 23), but required help.

Yesterday’s incident was the 39th call of the year for the volunteer crews at Whitstable RNLI.

“The safety message here is regrettably the same one we find ourselves repeating,” Ben added.

“I would not recommend the use of lightweight leisure inflatables in the open sea, but if you do, ensure you have floatation devices, which the two girls had, a means of communication and that someone ashore is observing you.

“Most commonly it is the weather, wind and tide that is catching people out.

“This was a particularly windy day with an offshore breeze, a combination I would strongly advise against paddleboarding in.”