A pair of rowers had to be rescued by Gravesend lifeboat crews after their boat capsized off Tilbury.

The two male Gravesend Rowing Club members were both suffering from hypothermia when they were picked up in icy waters near Tilbury power station on Friday morning (November 8).

The lifeboat launched at around 9.50am and crews found the men sitting on their upturned boat, which had to be recovered by a Port of London Authority harbour launch.

The casualties were wrapped in blankets, taken to Newbridge Causeway and helped into the Gravesend Rowing Club building in Promenade West.

Paramedics recorded one of the rowers had a core temperature 30.6C – well below the 35C mark at which hypothermia kicks in.

The body’s normal temperature is around 37C.

After a period of passive warming the pair’s core temperatures began to rise and they were allowed to take a warm shower while the crew monitored their wellbeing.

They both made a full recovery.

Woolwich callout

Gravesend RNLI was called at 4.25pm yesterday to a person threatening to enter the river at Woolwich.

While en route it was confirmed that they had been taken into police custody.

The lifeboat was released from service and returned to station.