A “confused” elderly man was airlifted to safety after getting into difficulties while out on his boat.

The RNLI inshore lifeboat crew from Sheerness was called over concerns for the welfare of a sailor who was in a confused state.

The volunteers were told he was unlikely to be able to navigate himself and were sent out to find him at 3pm on Tuesday (Sept 3).

It was reported he had left Hoo Marina and was thought to be somewhere in the Medway estuary.

After a 90-minute search around Hoo Island and into Stangate Creek, the boat was spotted aground opposite Ridham Docks in The Swale.

Crew member Jack Smedley said: “We had just enough water to get the lifeboat into his stern so I could climb across to assess the man onboard.

“He was very confused and couldn’t explain how he had got into this position.”

Jack realised there were not enough provisions on the boat and advised the man he would need to be taken ashore.

With the boat high and dry the only option was to winch him to safety using the Coastguard Rescue helicopter.

Once on dry land, the man, who told the crew he was 76, was handed over to the care of paramedics.