A man who died after a group of three were swept off Ramsgate pier was from the Netherlands and in his 60s, police have confirmed.

Emergency crews, including two lifeboats, the coastguard and police, were called shortly before 11.30am yesterday to a report from a fishing vessel that a number of people had been washed into the sea off the East Pier.

Three men, said to be Dutch yachtsmen, were rescued from the water, with one pronounced dead at the scene.

An air ambulance report says the man died from accidental injury and accidental drowning.

His next of kin has been made aware, and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

When the Ramsgate inshore lifeboat approached the area, a windfarm boat was on the scene and a man was spotted in the water holding onto a ladder by the harbour wall.

The crew of the windfarm boat then alerted the RNLI crew to a second man who was difficulty in the water behind their vessel.

The lifeboat crew rescued the man from the water, who was in more urgent need, and then returned to the man on the ladder.

He was also rescued and then both men were returned in the lifeboat to the lifeboat station, to be treated by paramedics.

An RNLI spokesman said: "As they were being put ashore one of those who had been rescued said that a third man had also been with them at the time they were swept off the pier.

"The lifeboat crew returned to the scene with paramedics on board and discovered another man who had not ended up in the water, but had been swept along the top of the pier.

"He had suffered injuries and was now sitting up by the Harbour Brasserie restaurant on the harbour wall.

"The lifeboat crew were able to access the pier by boarding the windfarm boat and were then able to rescue the man using a stretcher.

"He was taken on board the windfarm boat which brought him back to the lifeboat station while being treated by paramedics.

"Once back at the station he was airlifted to hospital."

It is understood that a fourth man, not part of the original group, had found himself cut off on the lower landing level of the pier by the severe weather conditions.

He was also rescued by the lifeboat with the crew again accessing the pier using the wind farm vessel as a ladder and was returned to the lifeboat station uninjured.