Redcar RNLI lifeboat rescues maiden voyager

The rider was taken on board the lifeboat and the craft towed back to the shore

The maiden voyage of a water scooter ended with its rider drifting in the sea for two hours before being rescued by a lifeboat.

The craft capsized near the Teesside Wind Farm, off Redcar, on Saturday afternoon, a day after it was bought.

Water disabled the engine and, with no VHF radio or mobile phone, the owner had no means of sounding the alarm.

Eventually, he was spotted by a member of the public and a Redcar RNLI crew towed the craft back to the shore.

Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI, said: "The rider was taking the craft out for the first time after buying it 24 hours earlier.

"Unfortunately, he capsized, and while trying to right the craft water got into the engine.

"He told coastguard officers that he'd taken in a bit of water during his mishap so he was given appropriate medical advice."