Rescue crews say a drunken woman who fell into the River Medway last night is "extremely lucky" to be alive.

The woman, who had been drinking heavily and could not swim, was walking back to her hotel in Maidstone before she stumbled and fell into the water at about 2am.

Her husband and a member of the public jumped in and pulled her to safety on the river bank.

The reveller, who was unfamilar with Maidstone, was then treated by Kent Search and Rescue (KSAR) crews at the nearby Embankments Floating Restaurant.

A spokesman for KSAR said: “This lady was extremely lucky and knows it.

"She was a non-swimmer and had consumed a significant amount of alcohol. Had her husband and a member of public not acted so quickly this could have had a terrible outcome.

"The rescue patrols were fortunate to be so close and be able to offer assistance. Our medics were on scene within a few minutes and treated the casualty for about 40 minutes before she was taken to hospital as a precaution.”

The woman, who is not from Kent, is expected to make a full recovery.