LIFEBOAT crews launched when a training exercise turned into a real life rescue.

The RNLI was in the middle of a training session with an RAF helicopter when the drama unfolded at about 6.45pm on Tuesday.

The volunteer crews of the Redcar RNLI lifeboats had just begun their annual training session with a Sea King helicopter from RAF Leconfield.

One of the lifeboat crew had just been winched into the aircraft when an emergency call came in that a speedboat with four people onboard had caught fire in the mouth of the River Tyne.

All the people on board had jumped into the sea to avoid the flames and needed rescuing.

The exercise was immediately abandoned - with Redcar lifeboat helmsman Mike Picknett still aboard the helicopter - and the helicopter headed north to Tyneside.

Mr Picknett said: "One second I was looking down at our lifeboat as it carried out its training manoeuvres, the next we were flying at 180 knots towards the Tyne.

"The helicopter crew told me that a boat was on fire and the crew had jumped into the sea to get away from the flames.

"The winchman pointed to some first aid equipment and told me 'if you have to, use it'.

"Fortunately my RNLI training has given me all the skills I need to carry out first aid but happily before we arrived all the people had been rescued and sent to hospital for treatment for hypothermia."

Dave Cocks, deputy launching authority at Redcar RNLI, said: "We've been waiting all year for this exercise and although the lifeboat crew were disappointed that their training had been cut short they were pleased that no one was seriously harmed by the incident at the Tyne."