A MAN has died after falling from a cliff at Souter Point, South Tyneside, early today.

The man, who had early threatened to harm himself, was found by police officers sitting halfway down the cliff shortly befor 6.15am.

Tynemouth RNLI inshore lifeboat, the Northumbria Police helicopter, Fire Service, Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Team and a rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer were sent to the incident.

As the lifeboat sped to the scene the man was seen by police to fall from cliffs onto the beach below.

A two man fire service cliff rescue team made their way down the cliff and recovered the casualty from the shallow water.

The three volunteer RNLI lifeboat crewmen then took the body into the lifeboat and took it and the two firemen to waiting police and an ambulance at South Shields sailing club slipway.

Ian Black, volunteer RNLI helmsman said: “When we arrived on scene at Souter we discovered that the male had fallen from a significant hight into very shallow water on the beach.

“He had clearly suffered fatal internal and external injuries, was no longer breathing and resuscitation was not possible."