A TEENAGER sparked a major rescue operation after going missing while trying to swim across one of the North-East's most dangerous rivers.

A lifeboat, coastguard and police, fire and ambulance officers were called to the River Wear, near Sunderland FC's Stadium of Light in the early hours of yesterday.

The Northumbria Police helicopter was also scrambled to support the search for the teenager, who was reported missing by a friend at about 2am.

Paul Nicholson, senior helmsman at Sunderland RNLI, said "Initial reports were that this teenager had attempted to swim from the north to the south side of the river. After losing sight of him, his friend then dialled 999 and reported the incident to the police, who in turn contacted Humber Coastguard."

As the emergency services made their way to the scene, the helicopter crew spotted the teenager, who was clear of the water, but had become stranded in mud next to Liebherr Cranes.

With the helicopter hovering overhead illuminating the scene, two RNLI volunteers went across the mud bank to assess and stabilise the boy, before preparing him for the rescue.

"When we reached the teenager, he was cold and wet, but otherwise unharmed," said Mr Nicholson. "After reassuring him, we wrapped him in a blanket, while the coastguard rescue team prepared their line rescue equipment."

The teenager was then fitted into a rescue strop, and lifted up the quayside wall into Liebherr Crane's yard, where he was handed over to waiting paramedics.

As a precaution, he was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital for treatment.

"It is unclear why the teenager attempted to swim across the river," said Mr Nicholson. "He is extremely fortunate that his friend was able to contact the emergency services to allow us to react as quickly as we did. All of the units involved pulled together as one team, to bring this incident to a successful conclusion."