TWO best friends are lucky to be alive after being stranded on a sand bank as the tide came in.

Nicola White, 13, and Jodie Young, 14, both from Minster, near Sheerness, were told they were just 10 minutes from drowning in the sea off The Leas, Minster.

Five-foot Nicola was forced to climb on Jodie’s back as the water became deeper and waves crashed over their heads.

Nicola’s father, Terry, told the girls the tide was out before they left, but they did not realise the significance of his words.

Nicola said: “We just walked out and sat on the sand bank and the tide came in around us. I did have my mobile but it was in my bag on the beach.”

Jodie added: “We tried walking back at first, but it kept getting deeper in front of us. I told Nicola to get on my back and then the water started going over my head. I did start to panic a bit, but Nicola kept telling me we would be all right.”

The girls did try swimming to shore but were unable to make it back because of strong currents. It is thought a member of the public dialled 999 and alerted Coastguards to the girls’ plight.

The shocked pair were plucked from the water by the Sheerness Inshore Lifeboat crew and taken ashore. Sheerness Lifeboat coxswain Robin Castle said: “They were very lucky.”

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S SHEERNESS TIMES GUARDIAN