SEVEN rowers were rescued today after being thrown into the sea from a capsizing boat.

A lifeboat from Lyme Regis was launched after the gig capsized just outside the town’s harbour.

The seven men, all members of Lyme Regis Gig Club, were rowing the 10-metre gig Black Ven when it was struck by two large waves.

All seven were thrown out of the boat.

The cox, Tony Colston, received a head injury, and after first aid from RNLI volunteers at the lifeboat station he was taken to hospital for checks. The other six were cold, wet and shaken but otherwise unhurt.

The rowers all reached shore safely. Two members of the lifeboat crew jumped into the water to help the rowers ashore.

Another rower, Chris Bailey said: “We were hit by freak waves, and it could have happened to anybody.”

The RNLI volunteers launched lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne within seven minutes at 10.59am and returned to harbour at 11.30am.