A kayaker who spent an hour in the sea after getting into difficulty was brought back to dry land in a lifeboat rescue.
The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade and Cullercoats RNLI were alerted just after 10.30am on Sunday to a kayaker who was struggling in the water off the south end of Tynemouth Longsands.
The RNLI lifeboat set out and retrieved the man from the water and brought him back to shore with help from lifeguards on the beach.
Once safely ashore at the beach, Brigade members spoke with the casualty who confirmed that he did not need any further assistance but was "very grateful for the help he had received".
All rescue units were stood down at 10.45am.
The incident comes as part of a busy weekend for emergency services across the region.
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On Saturday afternoon, three kayakers had to be rescued after also getting into difficulty off the coast of County Durham.
They were brought back to Crimdon safe and well by the Hartlepool RNLI after the alarm was raised.
