Lifeboat crews recovered a casualty from the North Sea on Friday (December 9) afternoon as freezing temperatures gripped the region hit.

Volunteer crews from Hartlepool RNLI were called out at 3.20pm on Friday by the Humber Coastguard to assist teams dealing with a casualty who had been recovered from the sea at North Gare.

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Crews dealt with rough sea conditions and freezing temperatures on the rescue mission.

The inshore lifeboat was launched at 3.36pm but was stood down shortly after arriving at the scene as the casualty was being dealt with by paramedics.

Hartlepool RNLI deputy launch authority Steve Pounder said "Our crew had to deal with freezing conditions and a very rough sea in the North Gare area.

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“Fortunately the casualty had apparently been recovered from the sea and was being dealt with by paramedics when the inshore lifeboat arrived."

The inshore lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road lifeboat station at 4.00pm and was once again ready for service half an hour later.

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