QUICK-witted bystanders have been praised for saving a man's life.

The 50-year-old, who has not been named, was found by a lifeboat crew floating semi-conscious under the surface, 400 yards out to sea.

Crew members of Redcar's inshore lifeboat thought at first that his seemingly lifeless body was a submerged inflatable doll - and had put out to sea in response to a hoax call.

Crew members Barry Knaggs and Tony Wild gave the man life saving oxygen - only recently supplied to boats.

Back on shore, the boat was met by a doctor and ambulance and the man was taken to Middlesbrough General in a critical condition, suffering from severe hypothermia.

Dave Cammish, of the Redcar lifeboat, paid tribute to the members of the public who raised the alarm while enjoying the Sunday afternoon sunshine outside the caf on the Stray.

He said: "To be honest there are not that many lifeboat rescues that are truly life or death. But this one was certainly one of them and the speed of the public's response made all the difference."

Lifeboats have only recently been provided with oxygen equipment, and the weekend rescue was the first time the Redcar crew had used the oxygen in a real situation.