Kayaker taken to hospital after sea rescue

An HM Coastguard helicopter attended the rescue in Folkestone

A kayaker has been rescued from the seas off the east Kent coastline.

Folkestone Coastguard rescue team was called at around 09:50 BST to reports of a person who had become separated from a kayak off Folkestone Harbour Arm.

An HM Coastguard rescue helicopter also attended the incident.

The man was lifted from the water by a winchman paramedic in the helicopter and passed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) on land.

A Secamb spokesperson said: "Crews assessed and treated the patient at the scene before taking them to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for further medical care."

An RNLI spokesperson said its crew at Littlestone was tasked by the coastguard to attend the rescue.

The kayaker has now been released from hospital after being checked over for hypothermia, the spokesperson said.

He later visited Littlestone RNLI to thank the crew, according to the RNLI.