A 13-YEAR-OLD boy and a 43-year-old man were rescued from the sea yesterday by members of the public using a garden hose.

Coastguards believe the man went into the water to save the teenager, who slipped on rocks at Cresswell, near Ashington, Northumberland, and both got into difficulties.

The man was believed to be from the Consett area of County Durham.

Two lifeboats, three coastguard teams, police and an RAF helicopter were called to the scene, but the two were rescued before they arrived.

The man was airlifted to Wansbeck Hospital, in Ashington. The boy was taken to the same hospital by ambulance. Both were said to be suffering minor injuries and from the effects of the cold.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "These two individuals were rescued from the water by members of the public.

"They used a garden hose to pull the people from the water."

A spokeswoman for the Humber Coastguard said: "We had a 13-year-old boy who was washed off the rocks at Cresswell.

"He went under the water and struck his head on the rocks.

"Somebody threw him a lifeline and a 43-year-old man went in for him."