Southend’s lifeboat crew will be featuring on BBC documentary which will show them rescuing a kite surfer.

The BBC series Saving Lives at Sea showcases the life-saving work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) across the country in a 12-part documentary series.

One episode, to be broadcast tonight, features the dramatic rescue of a kite surfer by Southend’s inshore lifeboat.

Thomas Kemp, 33, from Leigh, participated in the filming of the documentary.

He has been working on the water since the age of 10 and he is now a Ferry Captain in London for MBNA Thames Clippers.

He said: “My old boss ran the crew at Southend and I was always hanging around so I decided to volunteer myself as I’ve been working in the water since I was 10.

“It was really good working alongside the BBC. The crew weren’t actually allowed out on the boats with us so we filmed ourselves with Go-Pro’s and then filmed the interviews afterwards.

“The call was a kite surfer who fell off into the Thames and a shoestring got wrapped around his foot.”

The kite surfer became attached to his board and it was being dragged along the river.

Southend is the busiest coastal station in the country with 146 service calls over the last year.

Mr Kemp added: “We have such a massive variety to cover - the mud-flaps, the river, Two Tree island and loads more so we deal with so many things from suicide and drownings to fires and cut feet.

“I love helping people that weren’t fortunate enough to get the tuition I had growing up.”

Southend RNLI volunteers Mr Kemp and Chris McHugh will be featured in the documentary.

Following the success of the four-part first series, which was broadcast last year, this series features real-life rescue footage, accompanied by heart-warming and emotive testimonials from the crew, lifeguards and the people they rescue.

The series features real rescues carried out by the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards around the UK and Ireland.

Filmed over the past year, with lifeboat crews and lifeguards carrying special cameras and welcoming film-makers into their day-to-day life.