This is the dramatic moment a young man was left stranded after falling into the River Thames at Gravesend this afternoon.

He battled to stay afloat while awaiting rescue from the water by the town's pontoon at just before 12.30pm.

Witness Phil Murfin told how he phoned the emergency services when he heard the man - believed to be in his 20s - struggling and screaming in the water.

Another man working nearby went to his rescue.

Police, coastguard crews and Gravesend RNLI then helped him to shore, where he was spotted on a stretcher surrounded by medics.

Mr Murfin, who lives on a third-floor flat at Russell Quay, said: "I was sitting in my front room and I heard something going on.

"I could hear a man screaming and I looked down and I could see someone thrashing around in the water.

"I shouted to him to swim back a bit and said to try and swim to the shore because there was bit of shore further up.

"He was still thrashing around and I thought he was going to drown. I rang the emergency services and looked out of my bedroom window and could see people in the car park.

"I shouted 'someone is drowning' and they ran over to the water. By this time he was up to his waist so he found his footing."

Kent Police were called to the town at about 11.40am to reports the man had fallen in the river.

A spokesman said he is now being treated by medics after the dramatic rescue.

Police crews, Gravesend RNLI and an ambulance from South East Coast Ambulance Service were all at the scene.

Officers were seen bringing the man out of the water on a stretcher - covered in a blue sheet - along the pontoon and through the pier.

An ambulance was waiting adjacent to the pier next to the Three Daws pub.

Police and ambulances were earlier spotted by Baltic Wharf on Clifton Marine Parade.

Crews made their way along West Street until stopping outside the pier, where the man was pulled from the water.

A helicopter had also been hovering overhead as it assisted with the search for the man.

Video: Rescue crews in Gravesend after a man was rescued from the River Thames