A 14-YEAR-old boy had a narrow escape when he fell into the North Sea in Hartlepool this afternoon.

The boy had been fishing on the North Gare with his friend, when he slipped over the edge and fell into the sea.

The police helicopter was called to the scene and three police officers and a Police Community Support Officer used rope from the life belt on the North Gare to pull the teenager from the sea.

He was checked over by ambulance staff at the scene, and transferred to the University Hospital of North Tees to be monitored. Sergeant Peter Howarth, of Hartlepool Neighbourhood Policing, issued a stark warning to youngsters planning to go fishing there.

He said: “This boy has been extremely lucky and somehow managed to escape from his ordeal unscathed.

“However, others may not be so fortunate. The area around the North Gare is fenced off for a reason.

"It is extremely dangerous, and nobody should even contemplate fishing there.

“With the school holidays coming up, we would ask parents to ensure that their children do not attempt to go fishing in such areas, and to warn their children that if areas are fenced off, it is usually because they are dangerous.”