Gale force winds made a sea rescue off Dover especially difficult in the early hours of this morning.

Dungeness RNLI Lifeboat, Coastguard crews and a rescue helicopter were sent out at 3am to rescue a sailing boat crew member who went overboard.

Thanks to the aid of his life jacket, the man was able stay afloat and be spotted by rescue teams

James Crane, senior maritime operation officer with HM Coastguard said: "There is no doubt that in these dreadful weather conditions, this man’s rescue was made more straightforward because he was wearing a life jacket, which was inflated, and the strobe light was in a good working condition making him very visible in the water.

"It meant the helicopter crew could see him while they were on their way to the search area."

The alarm was raised through a Mayday to the Coastguard.

The rescued man was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for treatment.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover