Marine officers rescue men stranded in the sea

A tragedy was narrowly avoided when specialist marine officers helped to rescue two stranded men from the sea.

The Search and Marine Unit officers were patrolling the Thames Estuary on the Kent Police vessel Invicta when they received a distress call at around 10.45am on Wednesday 21 January 2026.

It was reported that two men, one in his 20s and another in his 30s, had walked onto the sand banks in Southend, Essex, before being trapped by the rapidly rising tide.

The Invicta was the closest available vessel and was guided to the precise location by the coastguard.

When the officers reached the men the water had risen to around neck-height and it is estimated they were only around 10 minutes away from being completely submerged.

They were brought to safety before the boat sailed to Southend Pier where a coastguard paramedic and ambulance were waiting.

Video footage

Highly skilled

Chief Inspector Alan Rogers of Kent Police’s Tactical Operations department was travelling with the Search and Marine Unit when the rescue operation took place.

He said:

‘Kent’s geographical position as a coastal county that is also home to several major rivers makes it even more important for the force to have a Search and Marine Unit. ‘Our officers are highly skilled professionals who carry out vital work every day – protecting the public, supporting those in distress and ensuring criminals cannot exploit our waterways. ‘It was a privilege to see the team in action during the rescue, and I am very pleased that our officers were able to assist these men when they needed help the most.’