Crew rescued as yacht runs aground on sandbank

The three people onboard were assessed and taken to safety

Three people have been rescued after their yacht ran aground on a notorious sandbank in Kent.

A volunteer crew from RNLI Walmer lifeboat station was called out at 06.57 GMT on Monday after the 11-metre vessel ran into trouble on the Goodwin Sands, about six miles east of their HQ in Deal, Kent.

The RNLI's Atlantic 85 lifeboat arrived in the area, long dubbed "the great ship swallower", within 11 minutes of receiving the alert.

Taking on water in the two-metre swell, the three on board the yacht were rescued and given a health check before being transferred to Ramsgate lifeboat station.