THERE were dramatic scenes in the Solent today as a lifeboat crew raced to the aid of a kayaker whose boat became submerged in the sea.

The alarm was raised at around 10.50am after a kayaker got into the water after his kayak became partially submerged.

A lifeboat operated by Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) was launched after receiving a mobile phone call from a group of four kayakers in Stokes Bay.

The boat was launched with 17 minutes of the crew being paged and arrived on scene within three minutes of launching.

Lifeboat crews recovered the kayaker and his kayak from the water and requested, via the UK Coastguard, that an ambulance meet them at the lifeboat station in Stoke Bay.

The kayaker was treated for hypothermia by the lifeboat crew.

Once ashore South Central Ambulance Service continued to monitor and treat him for moderate hypothermia.

The lifeboat returned to check the remaining kayakers, who had already made their own way back to shore and required no further assistance.

GAFIRS said it was the third call for assistance in 72 hours.