FOUR people were dramatically rescued from the Solent as the boat they were travelling on flipped upside down during storms.

The passengers were battling high seas and freezing temperatures but managed to climb aboard the upturned hull, where they raised the alarm from a handheld radio.

It is thought a freak wave could have forced the boat to capsize.

Solent Coastguard launched their rescue helicopter, India Juliet, and lifeboat crews were scrambled to the scene, just half a mile from Needles Point on the Isle of Wight.

This morning coastguard bosses said the crew had been extremely lucky and the circumstances could have been far worse if they had not been carrying the radio to call for help.

More coastguard crews were also drafted in to assist with the rescue yesterday afternoon, by keeping watch on the scene from the lookout tower on land close by.

The crew of the vessel, The Hornet, were eventually plucked from the waters by Freshwater lifeboat workers.

Miraculously there were no major injuries but all four were found cold and in slight shock.

All four, thought to be from the Hythe area, were taken to Lymington where crews from the Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team were waiting to take over.

They had all been wearing appropriate clothing, including lifejackets, which enabled them to keep above the water.

The boat was dragged to Totland Bay while it was still capsized, and left in the care of coastguard crews from the Isle of Wight.

Eventually it was righted and towed to Yarmouth Harbour where it is being moored until the owners are able to collect it.

The drama happened yesterday afternoon as most of the south was battered with heavy rain.

A spokesman for Solent Coastguard said this morning: "They were definitely very lucky, especially in that kind of weather, with very strong winds reaching 20 knots. They were helped by the fact there were vessels close by who kept watch on them until the rescue teams arrived.

"When they were taken from the water they had a few minor bumps and bruises but no significant injuries. Fortunately one of the crew had had the presence of mind to keep the radio in his hand enabling them to call for help once the boat upturned."

David Williams, of the Solent Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre said: "This clearly demonstrates the importance of carrying handheld radios - without it, the situation could have deteriorated significantly as the people concerned would have been unable to raise the alarm so quickly, and with the wind rapidly increasing, the outcome could have been very different."