A SUB aqua diver is in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital after being rescued from a well-known water sports lake last week.

The 58-year-old man from Norton, near Stockton was diving at Ellerton Lake in the Scorton area, near Richmond, when he is believed to have got caught up in ropes at the bottom of the nine metre deep lake at about 7.30pm on Thursday, May 21.

Fellow divers from the Billingham-based Atlantis449 sub aqua diving group rescued him and he was taken by air ambulance to James Cook University where he remains.

North Yorkshire Police attended the scene at the time of the rescue and are continuing to make enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

A leading member of Aqua449, which is based at Billingham Forum, was contact but after consultation with other member declined to comment.