AN exhausted 60-year-old windsurfer had to be rescued this afternoon Redcar by Redcar lifeboat volunteers.

The alarm was raised just after 3pm when a member of the public saw the man in difficulties in Coatham Bay, west of the lifeboat station.

The lifeboat launched in eight minutes and was alongside the man in nine minuts.

The crew found him exhausted and unable to help himself into the lifeboat.

He was brought aboard together with his windsurfboard and returned to the shore at Coatham.

Dave Cocks from Redcar RNLI said: "The man was well equipped but he was finding it difficult to get back to shore against the stiff breeze.

"Although this was a pretty routine call for the volunteer crew, there's no doubt that if they hadn't been there the man would not have been able to get back to shore under his own steam.

"He was very pleased to see the lifeboat arrive. He was well enough and generous enough to give the crew a handshake when they dropped him off at the beach."