Two people have been taken to hospital after their yacht crashed with barges in the River Thames near Erith.

On June 12 at 8.53am, an emergency call from London Coastguard sent Gravesend RNLI to rescue a boat involved in a crash in the Erith area.

The crashed vessel was struck between barges near Anchor Bay Wharf.

The responding RNLI team headed for the site whilst receiving essential updates from the coastguard.

On reaching Anchor Bay Wharf, the RNLI crew spotted the damaged sailing yacht wedged against the barges.

Debris from the vessel’s mast were scattered across the deck.

Two people were aboard the yacht, trapped and showing signs of head and leg injuries.

The Gravesend RNLI team managed to safely transfer them onto their Atlantic 85 lifeboat.

The Harbour Vessel's crew worked on securing the damaged sailing yacht.

On reaching the shore, the London Ambulance Service was waiting to provide further medical support.

Post-rescue, the Gravesend RNLI lifeboat, Olive Laura Deare II, returned to Gravesend Reach.

By 10.42am, it was refuelled and restored to service-ready condition, standing by for any future emergencies.

RNLI Thames Commander Stewart Challis said: ‘While making way to the incident it's important that we can obtain as much information about the incident before we arrive so we can create a mental model and have a plan to deal with the casualties as quickly and safely as possible.

"The support from the London Coastguard was brilliant as they provided us with additional information including, additional assets like London Ambulance Service, Metropolitan Police Marine Unit, and of course the PLA".

RNLI Thames Commander Liam Sidders said: “We quickly identified the vessel wedged up against the barges off Anchor Bay Wharf, there was clear damage to the sailing yacht with parts of the mast scattered across the deck, at this point we could see two casualties who at the time appeared trapped with signs of head and leg injuries.

“We then managed to get the two casualties safely on board our Atlantic 85 lifeboat whilst the Harbour Vessel’s crew made the casualty vessel safe, we continued to provide casualty care on board the lifeboat whilst we made way to Erith Causeway for evacuation and passed over care.

RNLI volunteer Mike Rountree said: “We were met by London Ambulance Service who further aided the two casualties before taking them to hospital”.

Stewart Challis added: “I would like to thank everyone who added to the search and rescue today as all casualties were quickly located and dealt with in good timing.”