A LIFEBOAT crew member dived into the sea to dramatically rescue a teenager cut off by the tide.

The 17-year-old lad was with three other teenagers when he fell from a 6ft ledge into the sea in East Cleveland at 10.30pm last night.

A heavy swell prevented Staithes lifeboat getting close enough to carry out a rescue so volunteer lifeboat member James Austin plunged into the chilling water and swam to the teenager with a rope.

The lad was hypothermic and had to be evacuated immediately so James towed him to the lifeboat.

James, a teacher at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough, said: “Despite the fine weather last night there was quite a swell at the scene and the area is very rocky.

“This meant that the lifeboat had to anchor and I swam ashore with a line, something we practise all the time. The group were all scared but the guy who had fallen in was obviously wet and very cold.

“The three others were still dry and the tide was starting to go out so we decided to take the hypothermic casualty to the doctor at Staithes."

One of the teenagers managed to get through to the emergency services on 999 to raise the alarm.

Staithes lifeboat spokesman Lee Jackson said: “The volunteer lifeboat crew were called after one of the teenagers managed to phone the police to say that they were surrounded by water to the south of Skinningrove.

“Mobile coastguard teams and the police helicopter were also deployed.

“When the lifeboat arrived on scene they found the group, which included two male and two female 17 and 18-year-olds, perched on a ledge 6ft above the water.

“One of the lifeboat crew was able to swim ashore and it was discovered that one of the males had fallen into the sea whilst trying to get to safety.

“The 17-year-old was showing signs of hypothermia and it was decided he needed to be evacuated immediately.

“He was recovered to the lifeboat and taken to a waiting doctor and ambulance at Staithes, arriving at 11.40pm.”

By the time the lad was rescued the tide had started to go out and Skinningrove coastguard teams managed to reach the three remaining casualties - all from the Skinningrove and Loftus area - on foot.

They walked them back to Skinningrove under the watchful eye of the Cleveland Police helicopter crew. By half past midnight the remainder of the group were safely ashore and the rescue teams were stood down.

The lad made a full recovery. The group is thought to have been on the beach for some time before the tide turned.

A Humber Coastguard spokesman urged everyone walking on the beach to check tide times - the danger is at the headlands where there is no way round at high tide.