THE emergency services were called in to action after a child was left stranded off-shore.

Southend Coastguard responded to reports that a young child was sitting alone in a dinghy around 300m away from the Southend shore yesterday (August 8).

The emergency services were contacted when a fishing vessel noticed the boy.

The child's dinghy was tethered to another unmanned fishing vessel at the time.

However, crews had to work fast after the child had jumped into the water and needed to be extracted quickly.

Fortunately, the nearby finishing vessel which reported the incident also went to the child's aid.

With the child out of the water, Southend Coastguard contacted the fishing vessel to set up a meeting point at Thorpe Bay Gardens to provide casualty care.

Multiple branches of the emergency services were called in with Essex ambulance paramedics, Canvey Coastguard, Essex Police and Essex & Herts Air Ambulance crew all joining the fray.

The child was handed over to paramedics after showing signs of seawater ingestion, hypothermia and shock.

A HM Coastguard spokesman said: "The fishing vessel helmsman went to the aid of the young child who had by then jumped into the water and needed to be extracted quickly by the fishing vessel that went to their aid.

" Southend Coastguard then received the young child and provided casualty care as the child was potentially showing signs of seawater ingestion, hypothermia and suffering shock from their ordeal.

"An East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust paramedic 1st responder then arrived on scene, along with Canvey Coastguard as ‘flank’ team for support, ambulance, Essex Police - Southend and the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

"The parents had also joined the emergency services by this time.

"East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust then treated the young child and decided that it was better to transport the casualty by ambulance locally than by air ambulance.

Southend and Canvey Coastguard teams then provided a safety cordon for the departing air ambulance due to the many bystanders who had now gathered on the seafront and ensured the site was cleared of any Foreign Object Debris.

"We wish the casualty a quick recovery from their ordeal and wish to thank the owner of the fishing vessel who went to the young child's aid and all our partner agencies for their assistance today."