A RESCUE operation was launched after a man on a small boat fell into the water when he tried to recover his anchor.

A MAN on a small boat fell into the water when he tried to recover his anchor in Harwich harbour yesterday.

He was rescued by another vessel, The Tub, and was then transferred to the Harwich inshore lifeboat before he was taken to Colchester General Hospital by the Essex air ambulance. He was suffering from hypothermia.

His sailing companion was later escorted to moorings at Holbrook by the lifeboat.