A KITE surfer had to be rescued after being blown out into the sea off the Shoebury coast.

A hovercraft crew from Southend RNLI were called out along with the Southend Coastguard at about 4.20pm on Friday afternoon when the male surfer was caught up in heavy gusts of wind.

Once the man was found, the hovercraft took him back to shore. He suffered no injuries.