Ramsgate Lifeboat and Coastguards have been scrambled after a boat ran aground on the treacherous Goodwin Sands off the coast of Deal, Kent.

Five men have been airlifted from the craft after an emergency call was received on Sunday afternoon (16 January)

A report by the BBC stated that Dover Coastguard have said there was a risk the boat may break up in stormy weather.

The yacht Liquid Fusion contacted Coastguards to report their craft was grounded at 1.30 pm this afternoon. The Coastguard requested the Ramsgate inshore and all weather lifeboats to launch.

When the lifeboats were on scene, it was then decided that due to weather and tidal conditions, to airlift the five men off the vessel.

An RAF rescue helicopter from Wattisham was scrambled and the men were airlifted from the vessel and taken to Manston Airport.

The lifeboats are hoping to recover the yacht as the tide rises.

The Goodwin Sands comprise a line of shoals northeast to southwest for 10 miles (16 km) at the entrance to the Strait of Dover from the North Sea and lying about 6 miles (10 km) off the Kent coast. The shifting sands form shelter for the anchorage of The Downs and are partly exposed at low water They present a major hazard to navigation, however, and are frequently the scene of wrecks, in spite of lights and bell buoys