Sea scooter pair rescued by lifeboat off Essex coast
A five-year-old girl and her father have been airlifted to hospital suffering from suspected hypothermia after a sea scooter overturned in the sea off the coast of Essex.
Clacton RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was called to the scene off St Osyth along with the RAF Search and Rescue helicopter at 14:40 BST.
The pair, staying at a caravan site, were in the water without life jackets.
They were flow to Colchester General Hospital for treatment.
'Clinging to jet ski'
Lifeboat helmsman Trevor Neal said: "The jet ski had overturned about 300 metres off the Sailor Boy cafe, off St Osyth beach.
"The five-year-old and the man (thought to be in his 30s) were in the water and were clinging to the jet ski.
"By the time we arrived they were at the water's edge.
"Crewman Joff Strutt went ashore to assess them and found the girl was very cold and suffering from suspected hypothermia.
"He called for them to be winched off the beach to the helicopter."
Mr Neal added: "Although they were wearing wetsuits they had gone out to sea on the jet ski without wearing life jackets.
"This situation could easily have been far more serious."