POLICE have revealed that the angler who died after being swept out to sea at the weekend was a married father-of-six.

Paul Turner, of Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham had to be winched from the sea after getting into difficulties while angling on the coast between Blackhall and Peterlee.

The 33-year-old was fishing with his father-in-law, and both had to be rescued, but Mr Turner died at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on Saturday night.

Durham Police said Mr Turner leaves behind a wife and six children.

It is believed the pair were washed into the sea from an angling perch near the cliffs shortly after 3pm on Saturday.

The other man, a 57-year-old, managed to get himself out of the water and was taken to hospital by Durham Police helicopter.

He was discharged from the same hospital after receiving treatment for shock and the effects of being in the sea.

Shortly before the incident which claimed Mr Turner's life, 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 on the same afternoon.

One 66-year-old angler from West Rainton, County Durham, was injured, believed to be suffering from a broken leg, and had to be airlifted to hospital in Newcastle, after a 16ft wave caught out the group and forced him into railings.

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