A fisherman dived into the sea to rescue a drowning pensioner - then carried on fishing.

Angler Rodney Dennis was determined not to let the 70-year-old get away after he plunged from a pier.

The 35-year-old reacted after the pensioner took off his clothes and threw himself into the North Sea, off the edge of the Roker pier, in Sunderland.

Mr Dennis had just cast his line, shortly after 1pm on Wednesday, when he saw the unnamed man disappear over the edge of the pier.

He leapt into the icy waters after him and battled against the swell to drag the pensioner to the shore.

Other fishermen rang the emergency services, who arrived in minutes to help pull Mr Dennis and the man back to dry land.

However, despite his experience and being in the water for 15 minutes, Mr Dennis just dusted himself down and carried on fishing.

Father-of-seven Mr Dennis said yesterday: "I don't think I was being a hero - I was just doing what anyone would have done.

"I love my fishing. I had booked a day off from work to go, so there was no way I was going to miss it, and I just carried on."

Mr Dennis, from Pennywell, Sunderland, added: "The poor old guy was so distressed. He was saying that his brother had died and he had no one, and had just lost the will to live. It seems like it was just a cry for help."

Paramedics took the pensioner to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where he was treated for the effects of cold and detained for observation.

Medics wanted to take Mr Dennis to hospital for a check-up, but he refused, because he wanted to carry on fishing.