Child pulled from sea with hypothermia after drifting 300m off beach in dinghy

A YOUNG child was plucked from the sea with hypothermia after drifting 300 metres off Southend in a flimsy dinghy.

Emergency crews and an air ambulance were called to Thorpe Bay beach on Saturday afternoon after the alert was raised.

The drama came as hundreds of thousands of Brits flocked to the coast during a weekend mini-heatwave.

The child was eventually rescued after being spotted by the crew of a local fishing vessel.

After being brought back to shore, the child was found to be suffering from hypothermia, seawater ingestion and shock.

Although the East of England Air Ambulance landed nearby, the child was taken to hospital in a regular ambulance,

Southend Coastguard said: “The crew of a fishing vessel had spotted a young child sitting alone in a dinghy which was tethered to another fishing vessel that was unmanned 250-300m offshore.”

They then raised the alarm by dialling 999 and asking for the Coastguard in Essex.

“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,” the coastguard added.

“Southend Coastguard arrived first on scene and contacted the fishing vessel on ‘channel 16’ (VHF radio international distress frequency.”

The child – whose sex and age has not been revealed – was then taken back to the dry land to be checked over.

“An East of England Ambulance Service 1st responder then arrived on scene, along with Canvey Coastguard as ‘flank’ team for support, Essex Police and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance,” said the coastguard

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

The East of England Ambulance Service then treated the young child and decided that they needed to go to hospital.

“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,” the coastguard added.