A MAN was rescued from the sea off Maldon in Essex after he was spotted clinging to the side of his boat.

A MAN was rescued from the sea off Maldon in Essex after he was spotted clinging to the side of his boat.

A Wattisham air crew lifted the 52-year-old to hospital after Thames Coastguard were called at around 12.45pm by a member of the public who heard him calling for help.

He had been in the water for around half an hour after he fell overboard while dropping anchor 100 yards out at sea.

He was taken to Colchester Hospital by the chopper crew who said he was confused and very cold when they got to him.

Jeremy Littlewood, watch officer for Thames Coastguard, said: “He was clinging to his boat.

“He had slipped into the water and the passers by heard him shouting for help.

“Life expectancy at this time of year is not great. We wanted to get to him as soon as possible.

“There probably wasn't much longer to help him.

“He was lucky the passers by heard him shouting for help. If they hadn't found him, it could have been a very different story.”