UPDATE: Three rescued from sea by Bournemouth Pier

Five ambulance crews were called to reports of people in difficulty in the water at around 4.15pm on Saturday.

With the assistance of lifeguards they pulled the trio from the water and at least one was taken up the beach on a stretcher.

Bournemouth Council seafront workers cleared an area of Bournemouth Beach adjacent to the east side of the pier and a makeshift helipad was created in the sand, however the air ambulance was not required.

A spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service said three people - a man and two women - were rescued from the water by the pier and have been taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

One was said to be in a serious condition.

Basil Arringdell, 58, who is visiting Bournemouth from London, said: "The ambulance man said that four or five people were in a dingy when it tipped over.

“One man fell into the water and a woman went in after him before she got into difficulty.

“A passer-by, a have-a-go hero if you like, went and helped them.”

Basil said that they watched as the lifeguards ran at speed towards Bournemouth Pier before staff from Bournemouth Council evacuated the area to make way for the air ambulance, which did not attend the scene.

He said that while this was happening, a person from a separate group of people also got into difficulty and needed the help of the lifeguards.

He believes that the ambulance staff worked to resuscitate at least one of the two people from the first incident, who he estimates were in their twenties or thirties.

“Two people were carried away on spinal boards. They looked like they were in serious trouble.”

Basil said that a third person walked to the ambulances while wearing an oxygen mask.

Jen Miller, 23, from Essex, said that the beach was empty on one side for a short while as the emergency services dealt with the incident.

"The first person was taken off wearing a stretcher as was the second person and then the last one walked to the ambulances."

Police were not called.