HARWICH'S lifeboat crew has issued a warning to paddleboarders after rescuing a person in challenging conditions.

Harwich RNLI lifeboat station responded to a distress call to rescue a paddleboarder in difficulty off Felixstowe Pier on Sunday evening.

The call came in shortly before 5.30pm, with the wind at a southerly 26 knots, creating rough sea conditions.

Despite the conditions, the station's inshore lifeboat (ILB) Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid was operating well within its capabilities and the volunteer crew wasted no time in launching to assist the distressed paddleboarder.

Upon reaching the scene, the volunteer crew coordinated efforts with the Coastguard's local rescue team and initiated a thorough search based on the last reported sighting of the paddleboarder.

With daylight diminishing rapidly and the sea conditions remaining challenging, an additional asset was deployed, and the station's all-weather lifeboat (ALB) The Duke of Kent joined the operation.

Fortunately, before the ALB arrived at the scene, the paddleboarder was located ashore and found to be safe.

Both lifeboats were stood down at 6.35pm and returned to the Harwich RNLI lifeboat station on Harwich Quay.

A spokesman for Harwich RNLI said: "Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is one of the fastest-growing water sports.

"Whether it’s on an inflatable SUP or a solid one, SUPing is a great way to have fun on the water and to get fit.

"Do it often enough and people can improve their overall fitness, in particular core body strength, which is where most of the paddle power will come from.

"Whether a complete beginner, new to SUPing or more experienced, it’s always useful to know a few tips and tricks to help improve the SUP experience.

"The best way to learn and enhance time on the water is to have a lesson and learn the right techniques including tips to help get back on the board and develop skills and knowledge of how to understand the environment such as wind and tidal information."

For more information on how to stay safe in the water, go to the RNLI's website at  rnli.org/safety.