An sea angler has died after being swept off a pier into heavy seas.
A combined helicopter and lifeboat rescue failed to save the 45-year-old man, who has not yet been named.
He was fishing in a force six gale from Amble Pier, in Northumberland, at around 2pm yesterday, when a wave swept him over the side.
An inshore lifeboat capsized during a rescue attempt and three crew members later required hospital treatment.
Squadron Leader Andrew Miller, of RAF Boulmer, paid tribute to the lifeboat crew’s bravery.
“You have to take your hats off to them, they had a go,” he said.
The pilot said a winchman took three attempts to pluck the angler from the water, by which time he was no longer conscious.
Malcolm Pritchard, lifeboat operations manager at Amble, said crew members were injured by large logs which were being thrown about in the seas.
The angler was taken to Wansbeck General Hospital, in Ashington, where he was pronounced dead.
