THREE people were rescued from the River Blackwater at West Mersea after a dinghy capsized.
A yacht noticed the dinghy had overturned and alerted Thames Coastguard around 2.45pm on Saturday.
It sent the West Mersea inshore lifeboat out but a safety boat from the nearby Marconi sailing club had reached the people first.
It had taken the people, who were unharmed, and the dinghy back to the shore.