A MAN was rescued from the sea in the early hours of this morning by the crew of the Redcar RNLI lifeboat.

The man, from Glaisdale, North Yorkshire, was heard shouting for help and the police helicopter spotted him chest deep in water near the Regent Cinema, Redcar.

The Redcar RNLI Atlantic 75 class lifeboat was launched along with Redcar's D class lifeboat.

Guided by the helicopter's searchlight, the Atlantic 75 class lifeboat with volunteer helmsman Mike Picknett in command, quickly located the man.

Crewman Tony Wiild jumped into the sea and helped the man back into the lifeboat.

He was then taken back to shore at the lifeboat station where he was transferred to a waiting ambulance and taken to James Cook University Hospital for treatment.

Crewman Tony Wild said "The man was in a very disoriented state when I found him and he was very glad to see the lifeboat arrive.

"He'd been in the sea for quite a while and was showing the effects of the cold sea."