TWO drunken youths were plunged into the sea at 3am today after taking a dinghy for a joy ride at Studland beach.

They were found in the sea at 4am - with one of them clinging to a buoy - after the white wooden boat capsized.

Coastguards warned that duo - a man, 20, and girl, 18 - could have died.

But they also blasted the pair for their stupidity and said it was clear that they had been drinking heavily'.

Watch Manager at Portland Coastguard Bruce Lack said: "Drink and stupidity played major parts in this incident with the two young people in serious danger of losing their lives as a result.

"From taking a boat with no oars to having no lifejackets or means of communication in the darkness in open sea is sheer madness fuelled by drink and bravado.

"We cannot stress enough how dangerous this kind of game can be, and that it is only at this time of year the sea is slightly warming, but not enough to put you beyond danger of severe hypothermia after prolonged immersion.

"The dulling of the senses by alcohol coupled with the cold shock of unexpectedly plunging into seawater can be a killer."

Portland Coastguard co-ordinated the rescue after the drama unfolded just after 3am this morning.

The pair's friend, a woman from Wimborne, raised the alarm from the beach after losing sight and sound of her friends in the darkness.

She had been shouting for the pair, who were from Verwood and Horton, but had no reply.

All three had arrived at the beach by the Sandbanks ferry earlier in the evening.

They had taken the white wooden dinghy from Shell Bay Marine and put to sea around 40 minutes earlier than the 999 call.

The two Swanage lifeboats, searched the using lights and the area's coastguard rescue team was also scrambled.

The duo were found after a group of lads - not connected to the boat trio - alerted coastguards to shouting from the sea.

The lifeboat crew discovered both the pair in the water of 11 degrees Celsius.

An ambulance was called. Coastguards said that both were brought ashore in a poor state with the girl slipping in and out of consciousness and taken to hospital.

Police officers also attended.

Mr Lack said that he particularly wanted to thank the group of lads who the beach for their public spiritedness in alerting them to the cries of help they heard.

Coastguards said that the two in the boat and their friend on the beach had clearly been drinking heavily'.

They said that the trio had clearly been intent on spending sometime on the beach as coastguard officers had gathered up clothing, pillows, windbreaks to hand over to the police.