A LIFEBOAT came to the rescue of a capsized dingy which was stuck in the mud in Sandbanks yesterday evening.

The Poole RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was launched just before 6.30pm and on arrival, the crew found a 14ft sailing dingy upside down with the mast stuck in the mud, between East Dorset Sailing Club and Salterns Marina.

One person was on the upturned hull, who had been in and out the water trying to lift the vessel for more than an hour, while battling a strong easterly wind.

Another person was on-scene in a three-metre rib, which had launched to assist the stricken vessel and stood by.

Watch RNLI video footage of the rescue below:

James Kilburn, volunteer helmsman, said: “With blustery conditions and fading light, the casualty was very fortunate that someone had raised the alarm, as he had been there for some time and was extremely cold.”

The RNLI volunteer crew immediately transferred the man from the dingy to the lifeboat and took him back to the station, where an ambulance was requested, before the crew headed back to Sandbanks to secure the vessel.

A tow was attached to the dingy and it was taken back safely ashore, before the crew left the scene and returned to the station by 8pm.