A man had to be rescued by an RAF Sea King helicopter after getting stranded on mudflats off the coast of Allhallows.

The emergency services, including the Medway Coastguard and firefighters from Strood, were called to the area at about 5.15pm, yesterday (Thursday) where they found the man stranded between 500 and 600 yards away from the shore.

It is believed he had earlier set off from the beach at Allhallows Holiday Park in a blow-up dinghy and it is thought he had been drinking alcohol.

At some point he became disoriented and found he could not get himself back to shore as the tide had gone out.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “He had climbed out of the boat at some point and witnesses said he had been in the water for about 15 minutes before getting stuck on the mudflats.”

The coastguard team and firefighters kept watch while the helicopter was despatched from Ipswich, Suffolk.

When the aircraft arrived at the scene scene, coastguard and firefighters guided the pilot to the man’s position.

The spokesman added: “He was then winched on board where he was assessed to be in need of medical attention and taken to Basildon Hospital, in Essex.

“It may be that he was suffering from the effects of hypothermia as he had been in the water for a while.”