A MAN was rescued by lifeboat after been spotted floating in the river by a member of the public.

Sunderland's RNLI inshore lifeboat and MCA Coastguard Rescue Team, together with an RAF Rescue Helicopter, were alerted after the man was spotted floating near to the Timber Beach Road, Hylton Riverside, at 8.30am today.

The lifeboat crew were able to quickly locate the man and recover the barely conscious man from the water. It is not know how he came to be in the water.

He was taken by lifeboat to Roker Beach where he was transferred into a waiting RAF Search and Rescue Helicopter.

Clive Fallon, Helmsman at Sunderland RNLI station, said: "We found the man floating on his back, at present it is unclear how long he had been in the water.

"As soon as we got him onboard he was given immediate first aid to stabilise his condition."

The man was then airlifted by RAF rescue helicopter to Hylton Road playing fields, before being transferred to Sunderland Royal Hospital by road Ambulance.

Coastguard Rescue Officer Neil Mearns said "We would like to thank the member of the public who reported this incident to Coastguard Operations Room.

"This was an excellent example of the RNLI, MCA Coastguards, and RAF working as one team which resulted in a man being recovered from the water."

The man was last night being treated at Sunderland Royal Hospital.