HARTLEPOOL | 21 MARCH

Washed 20m out to sea and battered by a heavy swell, one angler owes his life to RNLI volunteers who were on exercise nearby. Hartlepool’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat crew were putting their new vessel through its paces when a call for help came on the radio. Within 6 minutes, they were at the scene and hauling the semi-conscious fishermen into the lifeboat. They gave first aid to the hypothermic casualty, and brought him to a waiting ambulance on shore.