Felixstowe Coastguard's crews have described how members of the team had to wade through mud to rescue a sailor stranded aboard his yacht.

Rescue crews searched in the pitch black to find the yacht after reports at 2am it had run aground.

A search was conducted from Waldringfield to Martlesham Creek before finding the boat and then used their mud rescue team to bring the casualty ashore.

A Felixstowe Coastguard statement said: "Once the team managed to find the casualty vessel it was decided to extract the casualty off from the sailing yacht via the mud rescue team.

"Members from both Felixstowe Coastguard rescue team and Shingle Street CRT kitted up as mud techs to extract the casualty. Southwoodham Coastguard rescue team were also on route as back up.

"Two mud techs deployed onto the mud and brought the casualty back to shore. Safety advice was given."

The Felixstowe team finally stood down at around 1.30pm.