A yacht club is remembering a "well-respected member and experienced sailor" who died in a tragic accident after he fell from his boat.

Lower Halstow Yacht Club in Lower Halstow, near Sittingbourne, released a statement following the tragedy, on Sunday.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm a club member who had been staying overnight on his boat, which was on its mooring just off the club’s jetty and slipway, fell from his boat on to the soft mud of Halstow Creek.

"We understand a local resident heard shouting and alerted the police at around 2am. At the time the tide would have been approaching the moored yacht.

"We understand the police recovered him from the water some time later using a dinghy from the club. Both Sheppey Coastguard and Sheerness lifeboat were tasked at around 3.30am, some one-and-a-half hours after the initial report to the police.

"The casualty was a well-respected member and experienced sailor. Our thoughts go out to his wife and family."

Police said officers were called just after 2am.

A spokesman added: "Officers attended and a man was recovered and taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

"The man’s next of kin have been informed and a report will now be prepared for the coroner."

The ambulance service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service were also sent to the scene to try and save the man.

Sheppey Coastguard said it was tasked by Dover Coastguard to a person in the water at Lower Halstow Yacht Club at 3.28am on Sunday.

"Kent Police, ambulance service, Sheerness Inshore Lifeboat and Kent Fire Service also attended," it added.

Meanwhile, a Sheerness RNLI spokesman said: "The Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat launched at 3.46am on Sunday after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to a multi-agency incident in the Medway estuary.

"The lifeboat was released at 4.37am and having returned to station was ready for duty again at 5.15am."

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness