ONE of two anglers swept into the sea while fishing at Blackhall Rocks has died in hospital.

The 33-year-old man, from Peterlee, County Durham, was rescued after getting into trouble while fishing with his father-in-law.

He died at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, at 8.45pm on Saturday night.

His 57-year-old father-in-law, was discharged from the same hospital after receiving treatment for shock and the effects of being in the sea.

It is believed they were both washed into the sea from an angling perch near the cliffs shortly after 3pm on Saturday (December 14).

The other man had already managed to get himself out of the sea before a rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer arrived.

He was taken to hospital by the Durham Police helicopter suffering with shock and the effects of being in the cold water.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "We received a call regarding two anglers who had somehow come to be in the sea.

"One managed to get himself out but was in shock and very cold and he was taken to hospital by the police helicopter.

"The second man had to be winched to safety from the sea by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer.”

It is not known how long the pair had been in the water before they were spotted by a passer-by walking along the cliff top.

Lifeboat crew members were not called as the sea was deemed to be too rough and the helicopter from RAF Boulmer was in the area at the time.

It came after the coastguard was called to a report of 15 anglers being knocked over by a freak wave on Roker Pier in Sunderland at 1.30pm that same afternoon.

One angler was injured, believed to be suffering from a broken leg, and had to be airlifted to hospital in Newcastle, after a 16ft wave pushed him into railings.

The other anglers were led to safety through a tunnel beneath the pier.

Last week warnings about stormy conditions on the seas were issued and the coastguard has renewed advice to anglers not to take risks and to check weather and tidal conditions before setting out.

Three years ago the body of sea fisherman George Darbyshire, 61, of Blackhall, County Durham, was found at Horden Point a few days after he was reported missing.