A LIFEBOAT crew got called out twice yesterday to the same man who jumped into the River Thames.

Gravesend RNLI launched its boat at 3.40pm after reports of a distressed male threatening to jump into the river at Erith.

Once the lifeboat was on scene police reported that the man had been found ashore in a bar.

Once he was in the care of the officers and a safe distance from the water the lifeboat returned to the station.

But at 5.59pm the same man involved in the previous incident was once again threatening to jump into the river.

As the lifeboat approached Erith, the man was reported to have jumped in from Erith Causeway.

The boat came alongside and found him underneath the causeway hanging on, but trying to hold himself under the water.

Two crew went ashore and managed to drag the man back on to the causeway.

He was wrapped in a blanket but once police arrived he became very agitated and aggressive and jumped in again.

He was again recovered onto the causeway by the lifeboat crew and this time taken into custody by police.

Gravesend RNLI station manager, Ian Dunkley, said: "Undoubtedly the fact the life boat was able to be on scene in such a short space of time and the fact this station is permanently manned 24/7, enables us to be there within 12 minutes.

"If we hadn't of been I'm sure this would have been a search for a drowned person."

He added: "The crew performed splendidly. They had to deal with a very difficult situation until the police arrived. It's not something that we are really specifically trained for."