A man has tragically died after he fell overboard from a ship off the North East coast on Monday afternoon.

Lifeboat volunteers were rushed to assist the man yesterday shortly after 2pm after reports he fell from a ship and into the sea while being transferred to a transfer vessel.

The man was recovered from the water by the transfer vessel and Hartlepool RNLI crew assisted in administering casualty care.

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Sadly, the man was confirmed to have died shortly after, despite the best efforts of lifeboat crews and paramedic teams who met the boat when it returned to land and took him to hospital.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Just after 2.30pm yesterday police received a report that a crew member from a ship registered overseas had fallen into the water at Hartlepool whilst moving between vessels.

“He was brought out of the water by colleagues and assisted by the RNLI then treated at the scene by paramedics, but very sadly he was pronounced deceased a short time afterwards.

“Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are continuing enquiries in conjunction with other specialist agencies to establish the circumstances of this incident. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course to ascertain the cause of the man’s death.

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“Our thoughts remain with his family and colleagues at this difficult time.”

The man was taken by paramedics to James Cook Hospital but was sadly pronounced head a short time later.

On Monday evening a North East Ambulance Service spokesperson had confirmed: “We received a call at 2.15pm this afternoon We assisted the RNLI with the rescue of a patient on arrival back at the lifeboat station in Hartlepool.

"We dispatched the air ambulance, our crews and a clinical team leader and we took the patient to James Cook Hospital.”

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