A TEENAGE boy is recovering in hospital after falling 150ft down a cliff on the North-East coast.

Police said the 14-year-old, from the Easington area, had been trying to recover a hat that blew off his head in the wind.

Emergency services, including the Great North Air Ambulance, were called to the cliffs east of Easington Colliery to help the stricken youngster after the alarm was raised just after 4.15pm on Saturday.

Inspector Chris Headley, of Durham Constabulary, said: “It looks as though he has lost an item of clothing. His hat has blown off and he has tried to grab hold of it before it went all the way down. He has not been able to that in time and lost his footing. That was the reason for him being near the cliff.

“It would have been a rugged ride down, but it would have made the difference between saving his life and not. There is nothing suspicious.”

As the youngster had fallen down to the beach area police were helped by Seaham Coastguard and the Hartlepool Lifeboat in the rescue.

Insp Headley said: “He was reported as being unconscious at the foot of the cliff having fallen a drop of apparently 150ft. He has done well to survive.

“I do not know how far he went down to retrieve the item of clothing before he went the rest of the way.

“As a result coastguard were involved and launched the lifeboats. He was spotted and taken by air ambulance to James Cook University Hospital at around about 5pm.

“It was a joint effort between ourselves, the coast guard and the air ambulance to locate him and get him away as quickly as possible.

“Within 40 minutes of being reported he was located treated and taken away.

The boy’s suffered multiple broken bones and his condition was described by police as ‘serious but stable’.

Inspector Headley said: “He is currently in hospital. He has been moved to an observation ward. Everything is not good because of the injuries. He has got broken bones and ribs due to the fall.

“At this point he is still under observation although not life-threatening.”