LIFEGUARDS have been praised after carrying out three rescues on the North-East coast within hours.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was called to help at incidents involving a 13-year-old boy who fell 20 feet from a cliff, a 94-year-old man who was unconscious on a bench, and a man who slipped on some rocks on Thursday, August 18.

Police are now warning people about the dangers of coastal cliffs following the fall, which happened just after 5pm.

The boy, who is is a serious but stable condition in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, fell from the cliff off Norma Crescent, next to Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside.

Lifeguards Tom Steedman, Phil Richie and Matthew Dunn kept the teenager stable until paramedics arrived and he was flown to hospital.

Northumbria Police Chief Inspector John Barnes said: “We want people to enjoy coming to the coast and taking part in water based activities - but we want them to do so safely without putting themselves or others at risk.

“We want to remind people of the dangers of cliff tops to make sure they keep themselves safe and stay well away from the edge, where it can be easy to slip and fall.”

While the emergency was unfolding, lifeguards Jasmine Spokes and Cara Singleton responded to another incident at 5.45pm after spotting a man who had fallen on the rocks near the unit at Cullercoats.

The man was given oxygen before being handed over to paramedics and airlifted to hospital by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

RNLI Lifeguard Manager, Carl Harris said: “Both casualties received swift and effective treatment which is testament to the seamless teamwork demonstrated by the agencies involved.

“All RNLI lifeguards receive comprehensive first aid training as part of the role. This vital training ensured that our lifeguards remained calm under pressure and I am extremely proud of the team.”

Earlier in the day, at Seaburn beach, a 94-year-old man needed help after falling unconscious on a bench.

RNLI lifeguards Andrew Brown, Aaron Curle and Patryk Leszczewski were alerted just after 10.40am and looked after him until he was taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment.