COASTGUARD officers rushed to reports that people in an inflatable boat in trouble in the estuary.

The Southend Coastguard Teams were called by Dover Coastguard about people who had been caught out by the tide and cut off near the mulberry harbour in Southend.

RNLI Southend Lifeboat deployed their hovercraft crew as they had also been tasked and mobilised to the stranded people and were already on route and ahead of the Southend Team.

With radio communications running between the three, Dover Operations Control, RNLI and Southend, a joint and coordinated effort they have all carried out seamlessly many times.

A check in with the pier and foreshore officer based at the slipway who has also had eyes on reveals that the suspected persons are out on inflatable craft.

The team asked the Hovercraft Crew to carry out a welfare and safety check to the persons in ribs to ensure all was ok and no further assistance needed.

As several of the inflatable craft had returned safely to shore and with the ribs remaining and safe and well, Dover were satisfied and everyone was stood down.

Southend Coastguard thanked the agencies for their assistance.