Kayaker David Brownridge rescued by Redcar lifeboat crew

Mr Brownridge was treated in hospital for hypothermia

A lifeboat crew rescued a kayaker who got into difficulties in the sea off Redcar.

David Brownridge, 42, from Billingham, had set off from Redcar to paddle several miles to South Gare on Friday evening when his kayak capsized.

His girlfriend alerted the emergency services when he failed to arrive at a pre-arranged time.

A crew found Mr Brownridge clinging to the upturned kayak. He was treated for hypothermia in hospital.

Dave Cocks, acting lifeboat operations manager, said: "This was a rescue that undoubtedly saved the man's life. When he was brought into the lifeboat station he was very poorly.

"He told us he had been in the water for about 45 minutes. We removed all his wet clothing, wrapped him in blankets and gave him oxygen.

"He was showing signs of severe hypothermia. He had lost muscle control and he wouldn't have kept himself afloat for much longer."

RNLI volunteer Paul Calvert, a trainee paramedic with the North East Ambulance Service, who helped treat Mr Brownridge, added: "He was extremely cold and had poor oxygen levels in his blood.

"We started re-warming him and gave him oxygen until an ambulance arrived."

Mr Brownridge is recovering in Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital.