A businessman has spoken of the moment he raced to the rescue of two kayakers after they got into difficulties off Minster.

Ricky Wooding was looking out to sea with his binoculars ahead of opening Minster Windsurf Academy, which he owns, when he saw three people struggling to paddle against the strong offshore winds at about 9.30am today.

Moments later he noticed one of the long narrow boats had overturned and the occupant unable to right themselves in the water opposite The Sweet Hut, which is based on Minster Leas.

A male in a canoe alongside him, tried to help but soon found himself in trouble too.

Concerned for their safety the 46-year-old raised the alarm by calling 999 from the Catamaran Yacht Club at 9.40am.

By the time he raced back to the shingle beach one of the trio had managed to get himself ashore.

“I just hope someone would do the same for me one day” - Ricky Wooding

HM Coastguard volunteers James Crane, Andy Redman, Scott Cruickshank and Nigel Woolley were first at the scene.

After assessing the situation they asked Mr Wooding to launch his jet ski and help the casualties until the RNLI Sheerness inshore lifeboat, which was launched at 9.55am, arrived.

He brought the capsized man back to dry land first before towing the second person back in his boat. The lifeboat brought back the upturned one.

The single dad of three, of Clyde Street, Sheerness, said: “It was a case of right time, right place.

“Usually when you call the coastguard they deal with it but this was urgent and they needed something rapid to get to them as the lifeboat hadn’t arrived at that point.

“My jet ski hasn’t been used since September but it didn’t let me down and it started.

“I just hope someone would do the same for me one day.”

The group of men, aged between 30 and 50, are believed to have been fishing at the time of the incident. The male who capsized was the only one not wearing a dry suit and thermals.

Coastguard rescue officer Mr Crane, 27, said: “When he was brought back ashore his temperature was 30.7 degrees, which is seven degrees lower than normal and quite significant and within the realms of hypothermia. This was due to his lack of protective clothing.

“I would urge everyone to make sure they have got the correct clothing, equipment and skill set when taking to the water.”