The lifeboat launched to a report of a 35' motor cruiser Caronel, with two adults and two children on board, taking in water and starting to list near the Red Sand Towers. 

An RAF Sea King helicopter, Rescue 125 was also tasked, along with Southend Lifeboat and, later during the incident, Sheerness Lifeboat.

The casualty's position was subsequently corrected to south of the Shivering Sand Towers.

Whitstable and Southend Lifeboats arrived on scene, took off the vessel's crew, and transferred their salvage pumps aboard. However, even with both pumps running, the water level inside inside continued to rise.

Rescue 125 then arrived, lifted one of the casualties, who had become hypothermic, off Southend Lifeboat, and transferred two much larger pumps to the casualty vessel. Sheerness Lifeboat also then arrived with their pump.

The helicopter flew the hypothermic casualty to Margate Hospital, whilst Sheerness Lifeboat took the remaining three occupants back ashore.

The Caronel was towed back to Southend by Southend Lifeboat.

Whitstable Lifeboat was then released to return to station.

Click on the arrow for a video clip of the lifeboat launching on this service: