TWO men have been rescued from the sea after being swept away near a lighthouse.

RNLI crews responded to an emergency call at around 8.10am on Saturday, after a 999 request was made by a member of the public who witnessed a man being washed off the South Gare breakwater.

Both Redcar lifeboats were launched and were on scene within eight minutes.

The crew of the larger Atlantic 85 lifeboat found the man in the sea, around 50 metres adrift from the breakwater. He was pulled into the lifeboat and given CPR before being taken to Tees Dock where he received further treatment.

He was then transported to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Another RNLI crew at South Gare discovered a second man who had also been washed into the sea during the same incident. He also received medical treatment before an ambulance arrived and he was taken to hospital.

The incident involved UK Coastguard rescue teams from Redcar and Staithes, a UK Coastguard helicopter, the Great North Air Ambulance, NEAS HART teams, paramedics and Cleveland Police officers.

The condition of the two men is unknown.