Two adults and a child were rescued from strong currents in Morecambe Bay in what the lifeboat crew said could have been "a devastating situation".
The three people had been caught in the currents near Jenny Brown's Point at Silverdale, were drifting away from the shoreline and unable to make it back.
The coastguard called out the Morecambe lifeboat crew at 12.14pm on Saturday.
The two adults and a child were found almost two miles offshore and suffering from the cold.
A spokesperson for Morecambe RNLI said: "Launch Authority Mark Lister authorised the immediate launch of Morecambe’s hovercraft under the command of Adam Mills which immediately made to the area.
"(The three people) were recovered and taken to shore leaving them in the safety of Arnside Coastguard.
"The hovercraft crew returned back to base whereby they made ready the craft for the next callout.
"This incident was extremely serious as whilst the casualties had a mobile phone they had no safety equipment including no life jackets.
"The casualties had already started to suffer the effects of the cold. If the crew hadn’t arrived when they did then this situation would have been devastating.
"We cannot stress enough anyone going out on the sea whether paddle boarding, kite surfing, sailing should always have the correct safety equipment including life jackets. Failure to do so as this incident shows could cost lives."


Praise for Lancaster and Morecambe youngsters who took part in 'tongue movement' project
Clinic where students offer free legal advice to reopen at Lancaster University
Lines reopen after train derailment on Scotland-London line
Police arrest two and seize illegal bike in Morecambe
ITV commissions sixth series of Morecambe crime drama The Bay
E-bike shop moves from Lancaster to new Carnforth showroom
Lancaster workshop to tackle the issue of drink and needle spiking
Morecambe raw feeds shop up for three 'Animal Star' awards
Two new festivals proposed for Morecambe entertainment venue the Platform
Second day of disruption as work continues after train derails in Cumbria
Morecambe lifeboat crew’s swift response rescues swimmer ‘being swept dangerously out to sea’
'Street Meets' announced to answer your questions amid new wheelie bin roll-out
Campaign group welcomes new "life changing" bus service to Morecambe
Lancaster prison worker jailed for drug offences
Major disruption as train derails on West Coast Main Line
Talks begin for events to mark Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday
Lancaster music venue due to shut will now stay open "well into 2026"
Halloween What's On Guide
LISTEN: Launch of new group in Morecambe to help with gambling addiction
LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
