THREE men were rescued off the North-East coast after a pleasure fishing boat was sunk by a large wave at the weekend.

Hartlepool RNLI was called out to save the men, who had been swept into the sea when the wave hit the boat about a mile from the shore just after 1pm yesterday (Sunday, September 21). The boat was understood to have been side on to the waves so was swamped by the water.

Two lifeboats were launched after Hartlepool RNLI received a call to help from the Humber Coastguard.

The 16ft fishing boat was almost completely underwater and the lifeboats were on the scene in just over ten minutes.

Mark Barker, volunteer helm at the Hartlepool RNLI, said: "The fishing boat had been hit by a large wave and was swamped and began to sink. When we arrived on scene all three men were in the water with one clinging to the buoy.

"We managed to get two of the fishermen onboard the inshore lifeboat and then brought the third man onboard.’

"They were all very cold and we wrapped them in blankets and gave them oxygen and first aid as we headed back to the lifeboat station.

"We had initially thought of transferring them to the all-weather lifeboat but the sea was too rough. Two ambulances were waiting to take them to hospital."

The men were all wearing lifejackets.