Kent sea crash pilot has 'lucky escape'
A microlight pilot had a "lucky escape" when he was rescued by a passing ship after crashing into the sea near Kent.
The man, from Herne Bay, ran into difficulties and made a crash-landing into the sea off the Deal coast at about 1900 BST on Sunday.
Crew on the dredger, the Britannia Beaver, saw the incident and managed to get a rope to the pilot and rescue him.
The man was taken to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate for treatment for hypothermia.
A spokesman for Dover Coastguard said the crew of Britannia Beaver did a fantastic job.
He added: "It was lucky for him that they were there as it was getting dark and if you go adrift in the dark it's difficult to get back again."