Diver, 72, dies after Redcar sea rescue

A diver has died after getting into difficulty in the sea off the coast of the north-east of England.

The 72-year-old man was pulled from the sea after being found face down in the water off Redcar on Monday afternoon.

The crew of Redcar inshore lifeboat gave him first aid on board and then at the station when they returned to shore until paramedics arrived.

He was taken to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Cleveland Police said.

Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI, said they were alerted by the Coastguard shortly after 13:00 BST after someone in the boat from which the man had been diving reported he was in difficulty.

He said: "The lifeboat very quickly found a diver, a gentleman, face down in the sea, got him into the lifeboat and immediately began CPR, brought him back to the lifeboat station where the CPR was continued until paramedics arrived and then the paramedics took over the treatment of the casualty.

"But sadly we have since learned that the gentleman has died."

Mr Cocks said the man was diving on his own with another person in the boat.