Two teenagers had a lucky escape after their car was swamped by an incoming tide.

The pair of 17-year-olds, who live in Hastings, were sitting in the vehicle at Rye Harbour, east of Hastings, when a sudden tidal surge surrounded it.

Panicking, the driver of the car reversed it but the vehicle slipped into a gulley where it became trapped.

With the tide continuing to rise, both lads were forced to get out into the freezing cold water but were unable to make their way to safety.

Rye harbourmaster Carl Bagwell spotted the pair waving for help and alerted RNLI crews.

RNLI spokesman Steve Tollett, said: "They were incredibly lucky really. It was only because there was a boat coming into the harbour that was being piloted that the harbourmaster was about.

"Otherwise they could have been stranded there for a long time. They were already starting to suffer from the symptoms of hypothermia."

The drama unfolded on Friday night just as the high tide flooded across the large are of mud flats at the harbour.

The sea can flood the area notoriously quickly and Friday night saw a particularly high tide, increasing the danger for all involved.

Both teenagers became disorientated after leaping out of the car into around five feet of water and were plucked to safety by the RNLI crews.

As they were rescued one of the lads collapsed. They were taken first to the locker room of the nearby RNLI lifeboat headquarters where the heating was turned on fully.

They were then transferred to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings where they were treated for the effects of hypothermia.

Mr Tollett added: "Part of the problem is there was very little light in the area.

"There are no street lamps there and it was pitch dark and extremely cold. They were caught totally unaware."

Richard Tollett, the RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rye Harbour, said: "The two lads were extremely lucky that the harbourmaster noticed them.

"If they had not been spotted, the outcome could have had tragic consequences."

Both teenagers are now at home recovering but are not said to have suffered any long-term injuries.

Their car has also now been removed from the gully.

The RNLI is now warning people not to make the same mistake and make themselves aware of incoming tides.