WINDSURFERS have been warned to take care after an elderly man had to be rescued from the River Blackwater.

The 72-year-old was reported missing by staff at the Marconi Sailing Club, Stansgate, at 10.20am on Saturday after he had not been seen for about an hour.

Conditions in the water were rough, with winds gusting to around 40 knots, and there was concern for the man who had been windsurfing in St Lawrence Bay.

Bradwell Coastguard and lifeboat crews from West Mersea were called to the rescue, and a rescue helicopter was placed on standby.

A radio message was also put out to all vessels in the Blackwater to keep an eye out for the windsurfer.Fortunately, a yacht from Blackwater Sailing Club spotted the man just south of Osea Island.

Crew members got him out of the water and he was returned to the Marconi Sailing Club where he was met by the coastguard and club members. The man was cold, but uninjured.

A spokesman for Bradwell Coastguard said: “Locating a windsurfer in the water when you have such choppy breaking seas is extremely difficult.

“We would urge windsurfers to consider carrying a small day/night distress flare which would allow them to indicate their position in such circumstances.”