SOUTHEND lifeboat crews rescued a kitesurfer who got into difficulties.

Southend RNLI Atlantic 75 Lifeboat was launched after National Coastwatch volunteers based on East Beach, Shoebury, via Thames Coastguard, spotted a kitesurfer in difficulty approx one and a half miles off the end of the boom at Shoebury on Sunday afternoon.

The kitesurfer, in his 50’s, had been drifting out to sea for 25 minutes, thanks to westerly winds and an ebbing tide.

Fellow kitesurfers had failed to spot the man was in difficulties but thanks to the vigilance of Coastwatch he was rescued and brought back to shore to be checked over by paramedics.

The Southend RNLI search and rescue hovercraft also assisted.