Two girl swimmers and a man needed hospital treatment after almost drowning in the sea off Sheppey.

The drama happened last night after residents had previously complained there had been no lifeguards on duty at The Leas, Minster.

The swimmers were given oxygen by the crew of the Sheerness inshore lifeboat and then taken to hospital around 7pm.

Sheerness RNLI spokesman Vic Booth said: “Our inflatable lifeboat was launched after a call from UK Coastguard that two young girls were in difficulties in the water off Minster Leas and that a third person, a male who had gone into the water to help, was also having problems.

“We were on the scene at 6.59pm by which time it was clear all three were back on the shore.

“The lifeboat was beached so our crew could check the three people were OK.

"But it became immediately obvious they were all suffering from water ingestion and the male was having breathing difficulties.

“Using the emergency equipment from the lifeboat the crew was able to administer oxygen and reassure the casualties until a first responder and later two ambulances from the Kent ambulance service (SECAmb) arrived on the scene.”

It is believed all three were taken to hospital by ambulance for further checks.