AN angler killed after a wave swept him off a pier was last night named as Stephen Garnett.

Forty-five-year-old Mr Garnett, of Armley, in Leeds, was one of three people who were fishing at the Northumberland port of Amble when weather deteriorated on Thursday afternoon.

The others managed to get clear of the pier, but Mr Garnett is understood to have been packing up his equipment when he was swept away in an area known as the Triangle, by a high wave.

He was eventually winched from the sea by a rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland, but he was confirmed dead on arrival at hospital in Ashington.

An inshore lifeboat, which was scrambled within minutes, capsized during the rescue and three crew members were injured before being rescued.

Two of the lifeboat crew suffered broken limbs and one of them was kept overnight in hospital before being released yesterday.

Lifeboat spokesman Derek Goggins said the vessel was a write-off and would have to be replaced.

Police described the incident as tragic and said the seas became absolutely horrendous during winds which reached storm force six.

Superintendent Jean Austin, of Northumbria Police force, has advised people against walking on or fishing from piers at this time of year.