The coastguard helicopter was called to a beach after reports a person had drifted out to sea on a rubber ring.

The chopper was seen hovering over Minster and along the seafront at Sheerness, off Marine Parade, where many swimmers were in the water at about 5.45pm yesterday.

The RNLI Sheerness inshore lifeboat was also called out to sea to help.

It said it had been advised en route that a person had swum out to retrieve an inflatable ring, which had blown off the beach.

A spokesman added: "The crew located the ring, which had been recovered by a kayaker. There were no signs of any person with ring.

"Following a discussion with the Sheppey coastguard team ashore, it was confirmed that a person had swum out, but had returned to shore safely.

"With no one missing, the lifeboat returned to station at 6.30pm."

A Sheppey coastguard team spokesman said: "Sheppey and Medway coastguard teams, along with a senior coastal operations officer, Sheerness inshore lifeboat and the coastguard helicopter were tasked to a person in the water with an inflatable doughnut toy drifting out to sea.

"The team quickly spotted the inflatable and directed the inshore lifeboat and the helicopter to the area.

"The lifeboat recovered the inflatable and all resources started to search for the person in the water.

"Members of the Sheppey coastguard team talking to people on Sheerness beach found the person who had got themselves out of the water and was safe and well.

"All resources were stood down."

The Sheppey coastguard volunteers left the station to return home at 7pm.

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness