AN illegal immigrant was recovering in hospital last night after he jumped off a ship and swam across a river.

The man, believed to be from South America, was spotted leaping off the Fairlane as the vessel docked on North Tyneside at 12.40pm.

He swam the width of the Tyne to the south bank, but collapsed after reaching the shore. Paramedics attended to him at the scene and he was taken to South Tyneside Hospital, where he is being treated for hypothermia.

The event sparked a manhunt after onlookers reported seeing two figures jump off the ship.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said last night the police marine unit and helicopter, as well as the coastguard, made a search of the area, but inquiries suggested there was only one person.

He added: "We are calling out interpreters to find out the exact circumstances surrounding the incident."

Police, Immigration officials and officers from Customs and Excise were searching the vessel last night in case further stowaways were onboard.

The ship left Venezuela on Tuesday, May 13, and Tyneside was its first port of call.