RNLI volunteers were called out to rescue two people in the water after their dinghy capsized on Saturday afternoon.
The crew were launched at 1.15pm following the incident near the Heugh Breakwater, off the shore of Hartlepool.
A Hartlepool RNLI spokesman said: "The volunteer crew launched at 1.15pm and were on scene at 1.20pm where one person was recovered from the water and the other casualty was recovered from the beach by a Coastguard team.
"First aid was administered to the casualty as the inshore lifeboat returned to the lifeboat station at 1.25 where the casualty was handed over to awaiting paramedics."
Hartlepool RNLI deputy launch authority Glenys Thompson added: "A quick response from the volunteer crew meant that we got to the casualty quickly and brought the incident to a successful conclusion."
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