TWO Filipino men were rushed to hospital this afternoon after being overcome by noxious fumes.

They were believed to be on the top deck of the Jo Eik oil tanker docked at a terminal at Seal Sands, near Billingham, when they became ill shortly after 12.20pm.

The two men signalled from the Jo Eik to staff on the dock to alert emergency services.

One of the men is thought to have fallen and hit his head and was taken to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, by air ambulance.

The other man was driven there.

The ship was carrying crude oil and had previously been carrying turpentine which was gasing off.

Steve Walsh, Watch Manager at Billingham Fire Station said: "It was lucky that we had a fire engine there at the time, the two crew men were rescued and oxygen was given to them, I'm not sure on the exact condition of the them but one of them was in a pretty bad way."