FIVE adults were rescued to safety after a boat suddenly sunk into water at a Dorset harbour.

An RNLI crew rushed to Mudeford Quay at 9.30pm on Saturday after a ten-foot motor vessel sank near Hengistbury Head Sail Training Centre.

Due to the very low tides, the five young adults that were aboard managed to get out of the boat and drag it onto Branders Bank mud bank. 

RNLI Mudeford took the five youngsters to Christchurch Quay and then went back to recover the boat. 

When returning to Branders Bank, the volunteer RNLI crew dragged the boat off the mud bank and refloated it, then recovered the boat to Christchurch Quay slipway.

In a statement on social media, an RNLI Mudeford Lifeboat spokesperson said: "RNLI Mudeford were very pleased to see all five youngsters had their life jackets. 

"It was a calm evening with broken clouds, a south-easterly force 1-2 wind and a slight sea state when the RNLI Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Mudeford Servant launched at dusk.

"Please be aware of the capacity of your vessel when going on the water. 

"If you find yourself or anyone else in trouble in the water please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."