Lifeboat launched to sea rescue in North Shore

Emergency rescue teams and a lifeboat were called out to the Promenade near to the Hilton Hotel at around 3am on Tuesday.

Crews say that they arrived to find the man completely cut off by the sea and clinging to a lifebuoy.

A volunteer for HM Fleetwood Rescue team said: "The team was tasked following a 999 call from a member of the public that they had heard some voices and concerns they would be cut off by the incoming tide.

"The team arrived along with our flank team HM Coastguard Lytham to find the casualty clinging to a lifebuoy and lying on the severe sloping sea wall apron with the water covering his legs.

"Visibility and access was poor and extremely dangerous due to the position of the casualty under the overhang of the concrete sea wall.

"Two Coastguard Rescue Officers (one from Lytham and one from Fleetwood) were connected to safety ropes and proceeded to walk along the moss covered and slippery top of the sea wall slope.

"They reached the casualty by moving down the slope and pulling him out of the water, up to the over hang where they supported him to stand.

"At this point, three Coastguard Rescue Officers on the sea wall had hold of two safety ropes (one for each CRO) and the lifebuoy rope which was already around the casualty.

"By shuffling along, we managed to bring the casualty and the two rescue officers along the 200m to the nearest access steps.

"He was handed to the care of paramedics due to the danger of hyporthermia as he had been in that position for over an hour."

A spokesman for the coastguard said: "There were difficulties getting him back on the right side of the sea wall.

"It was extremely hazardous to get to where he was and teams had to use ropes to ensure their safety.

"We don't know how the man got there or why he was there.

"We spent around an hour and a half at the scene."

RNLI Blackpool where also tasked to assist and to act as safety cover in case anyone slipped into the water.

A spokesman for the charity said: "We were called out when a person was spotted in the sea near the Hilton Hotel.

"One of our D class lifeboats launched and headed straight to the scene.

"Fortunately the casualty was close to the sea wall and being helped to safety by HM Coastguard Lytham and Blackpool so the lifeboat provided safety cover."

The man was found to be safe but passed to the care of paramedics for checks.