HEROIC lifeboat crews helped paramedics treat a heavily pregnant woman who was stuck on an island because of high tides.

Members of Mersea RNLI were paged to the medical emergency on nearby Osea Island, shortly after midnight on Sunday.

While two of the crew were dropped at the scene to assess the situation, the lifeboat was sent to the mainland at Stansgate to pick up a paramedic and bring him over to the island.

The heavily pregnant woman was then taken back on the lifeboat with the paramedic to a waiting ambulance.

She was then transferred to Broomfield Hospital for further treatment.

Hours before, crew members had spotted a yacht run aground off the Mersea coast.

With the yachtsman cleared in distress and in need of help, the lifeboat was launched to help him once the tide had come in enough.

Eventually he was able to float himself on and the lifeboat volunteers spoke to him later in the evening to confirm he was safe and happy to stay onboard overnight.