A FISHERMAN was rescued from the sea off the North-East coast following a major sea and air rescue mission.

Inshore lifeboats from the Sunderland and Tynemouth RNLI, as well as a rescue helicopter from Humberside were scrambled after reports of a man the water at the promenade at Hendon, Sunderland, at about 4.45pm yesterday (Thursday, November 26).

It is not clear how the man ended up in the water but it is thought he had been fishing from the promenade and walked down a ramp towards the sea to retrieve a fish.

At this point he either slipped or was washed into the water by a wave.

A local fishing boat also responded to an appeal from coastguards and went to the area to standby whilst the lifeboats arrived.

Dave Redfearn of Sunderland RNLI said: “The Atlantic Inshore Lifeboat from Sunderland was first on scene and we were directed in to the man’s location by a coastguard team on the shore, we were very relieved to hear him still shouting lying on his back

“It is thought the man had some sort of all-in-one suit on for fishing which likely assisted in his flotation.

“He was about 50 m off shore. We dragged the man in to the boat and immediately started our casualty care as the man was very cold. It was also very likely that he had swallowed water.”

The Lifeboat took the man back to Sunderland Marina where he was handed into the care of the ambulance service.

The North East Ambulance Service and police were also involved in the rescue.