Concern for an extreme sports enthusiast who ventured into the freezing sea prompted a challenging rescue operation for lifeboat crews.

A rescue team was sent out from Margate yesterday afternoon amid snow and strong winds to find the sportsman - who wanted to experience the atrocious weather conditions.

The RNLI and Coastguard crews were alerted after police received a call from a member of the public reporting a person in the sea off Westgate-on-Sea.

Following an offshore search, the man was found safe and well and was left in the company of the shore search teams.

Nick Smith, from the Margate lifeboat team, has urged anyone intending to go out to sea to inform the coastguard.

He said: "The lifeboat crew faced challenges even before they set out to sea given the adverse weather.

"It was understandable that the sight of a person in the sea today prompted a 999 call to the emergency services and we are grateful that they responded in that way.

"We strongly urge extreme sports enthusiasts to contact the coastguard if they intend to put out to sea in these current extreme conditions."