A teenager was rescued after his “beach toy” kayak had been blown out to sea in a “frightening incident”.

Sheerness RNLI was called by the Coastguard to reports three inflatable kayaks were in trouble in the water off The Leas, in Minster, yesterday afternoon (August 15).

Its inshore lifeboat was launched at around 1.50pm and found one of the boats close to the shore and another further out in no immediate danger.

The third kayak, however, was way off shore and was already being helped by officers on a police boat who were in the area.

The teenager and his kayak were taken on board and brought back to the beach before being handed over into the care of the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue team.

The other two kayakers had managed to get back to shore without assistance.

Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat coxswain Paul Jarvis has now issued a warning against the use of cheap inflatables on the beach.

He said: “The teenager was checked by the crew and apart from being very cold was OK and hopefully wiser after his frightening incident.

“This was a classic case of what can happen when a totally unsuitable inflatable type of ‘beach toy’ is taken out on the sea in what were absolutely the wrong conditions, a recipe for any type of small inflatable or lightweight craft to get into difficulties in inexperienced hands.

“Fortunately for this young chap the police launch was close by when he got in to trouble. Without their help the outcome could have been a lot different.”

The lifeboat was back at the station by 3.15pm.