TWO pensioners walking their dog helped save a man who fell into the sea.

Robert and Barbara McHugh, of Grindon, in Sunderland, were walking along the city's Roker Pier with their Jack Russell cross Kim on Monday morning.

The dog heard the man's cries for help and alerted the couple.

They threw a lifebelt to the man, who was in his 60s, called for help on their mobile phone and then kept him talking until the emergency services arrived 20 minutes later.

The man had fallen about 30ft from the pier wall into the water.

Mrs McHugh, 63, said: "The poor man went under the water on one occasion but he managed to grab the belt and pull himself back to the surface.

"He said he was going to go under a few more times, but I just kept telling him over and over 'Keep a hold, son, help is coming'."

The man, who has not been named, was rescued by a lifeboat crew and airlifted to South Tyneside District Hospital by police helicopter.

He was detained overnight, suffering from hypothermia and head injuries.

Mr McHugh, 67, said: "We're not heroes. We just did all we could to help someone in trouble - I'm not even sure we acted in the proper way."