by Lewis Dyson

A man has been treated for shock and cold after his dinghy capsized off the coast of Kent.

It happened close to Queenborough Harbour at around 1pm yesterday afternoon.

The Sheerness lifeboat, Sheppey Coastguard and an ambulance were all called.

Symeon Christodoulou was helped out of the water by a nearby sailor and emerged cold and wet, but unharmed.

The 62-year-old, from Headcorn, was in the dinghy as he was trying to reach his bigger motor boat, named Pisces.

He said: "The idea was I was going out there to put a new petrol tank on the boat because I was trying out a new outboard motor.

"I have actually had it for a few months now but I have not managed to get it out yet."

"I got out a little bit and I was trying to turn around and I stood on the centre board and then the rear corner went under the water and the boat flipped over.

"A guy came along in a much bigger boat and gave me a rope and helped me to get out of the water."

He was taken into the Old House At Home pub, which overlooks the quay, where he was given a warm bath and a change of clothes.

However he had to endure jokes from those who had witnessed his misadventure.

"I was never in much danger, but my pride was hurt more than anything. I made myself look stupid and I had to listen to a lot of jokes at my expense from everybody at the pub."

The retired father of two was trying out boating after his wife told him he should find a hobby. "My wife will find out. When I tell her she will probably laugh her head off and tell me what a fool I am just to pile on insult on top of embarrassment."

Kent Ambulance, Kent Coastguard and Sheerness Lifeboat were all called to the scene and he was checked by paramedics.