A 14-YEAR-OLD boy had a lucky escape after falling into the sea while fishing.

The teenager was on North Gare, Hartlepool, with a friend yesterday afternoon when he slipped and fell into the sea.

Three police officers and a Police Community Support Officer used rope from a lifebelt to pull the teenager to safety.

Hewas taken to University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, as a precaution.

Sergeant Peter Howarth, of Hartlepool neighbourhood policing unit, 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 offfor a reason. It is extremely dangerous, and nobody should even contemplate fishing there.

"With 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."