Marine officers rescue two men from rising tide in Thames Estuary
Kent Police vessel Invicta reached the stranded pair minutes before they were fully submerged
Last updated 24th Jan 2026
Kent Police have described an incident as a 'narrowly avoided' tragedy after specialist marine officers helped rescue two stranded men from the sea.
Officers from the Search and Marine Unit were patrolling the Thames Estuary on the Kent Police vessel Invicta, when they received a distressing call at around 10:45am on Wednesday 21 January.
Two men, one in his 30s and one in his 20s, were reported to have walked onto the sand banks in Southend, Essex, before being trapped by the rapidly rising tide.
As Invicta was the closest vessel available, they were guided by a coastguard to the location.
The water had risen to neck height by the time officers reached the men. It was estimated that they were only 10 minutes away from being completely submerged by water.
The boat sailed to Southend Pier where a coastguard paramedic and ambulance were waiting.
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.’