Sailor tells rescuers he was at sea for 45 days

The man told his rescuers he had been at sea for 45 days

A solo sailor who was rescued from a boat which had run aground told rescuers he had been at sea for 45 days.

Tynemouth RNLI said volunteers helped the elderly man off the sailing boat in King Edward's Bay on the north-east of England coast at about 20:00 BST on Wednesday, after reports it was dangerously close to rocks.

The coastguard was also called out and concerns raised by rescuers about items found on board the vessel, which had by then run aground.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed an Army bomb disposal team had been called out and "black powder" was taken back to its barracks.

Tynemouth inshore lifeboat helm James Waters said the team was training at the time near Tynemouth's north pier and was diverted to help.

The Cullercoats lifeboat was also called out.

The RNLI said: "One person was found on board, who had reportedly been at sea for 45 days and was in need of medical assistance.

"With the vessel taking on water and pitching erratically with the sea conditions, the decision was made to extract the casualty from the vessel."

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it had received reports of a sailing vessel with one person on board drifting towards rocks on Wednesday evening.

"Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team, Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade and RNLI lifeboats from Cullercoats and Tynemouth were sent," a spokesperson said.

The sailor was handed over to North East Ambulance Service paramedics and the grounded vessel secured, they added.