HM Coastguard is warning people of the dangers of not using jet skis safely.

It follows a number of incidents around the Island - including jet skis overturning in the water and getting stuck in mud - in the past five weeks alone.

Southend RNLI hovercraft was called to reports of a jet ski running aground near Deadman's Island in the Swale.

The volunteer crew was called at 4.07pm on Tuesday when they returned the vehicle to the shore using a tow line from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Nigel Woolley, HM Coastguard's senior coastal operations officer for the area, said: "The majority of users are responsible but there are those who don’t respect the water.

"We want people to enjoy themselves at the coast, but also to make sure they’re staying safe."

He added: "Jet skis are powerful machines and the last thing you want is to find yourself in the water after being thrown off. This is why we always recommend that you wear a buoyancy aid and ensure you’re using a kill cord, so if you end up in the water, the engine will stop."

"Jet skis are powerful machines."

Mr Woolley is advising jet-skiers to attach a handheld VHF radio to themselves so they can contact the coastguard if they get into difficulty.

A personal locator beacon may also be useful, he added, for more remote locations, along with mini flares and a charged mobile phone in a plastic bag.

Anyone who sees people putting others at risk or in difficulty at the coast should call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

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