Windsurfer taken to hospital after getting into difficulty near Redcar offshore windfarm

Redcar Lifeboat Station launched both lifeboats to search for the man, believed to be in his early 70s, after he was reported missing

A windsurfer was left in a critical condition in intensive care after getting into difficulty while out at sea.

The man, believed to be in his early 70s, was windsurfing near Redcar offshore windfarm when he was reported missing yesterday afternoon.

A frantic search then got under way, with Redcar lifeboats, as well as boats from the Teesside offshore wind farm, being launched in attempt to find him.

The man was eventually discovered, reportedly face down in the water, by a kitesurfer.

He was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where he remained in intensive care last night.

Humber coastguards were alerted to at 2.13pm when the windsurfer’s friend reported him missing.

“We were alerted by a friend of his who had said he had disappeared and hadn’t come back in,” said a spokesman.

“He had been missing for about 20 minutes.”

Redcar Lifeboat Station launched both of its lifeboats to search for the windsurfer.

“We also had some of the standby vehicles from the windfarm which started to look for him,” he added.

“He was eventually found by a kitesurfer who had spotted him in the water.

“He started to recover the windsurfer before the RNLI took over and brought him in.

“They provided medical assistance on the beach until the ambulance arrived.”

“The initial report was that he was about half to three-quaters of a mile offshore drifting towards to windfarm,” said the spokesman.

“He was found in that area - which is a big area.

“All we now know is that he is intensive care,” he added.

Mark Watson, was out windsurfing yesterday, but was not at the scene of the time of the incident.

The 44-year-old from Chester le Street said: “I am not local but have seen the man down here before.

“Some of the local lads who know him were really shook up and didn’t want to go back in the water afterwards.

“When the conditions get difficult it can be easy to get caught out or can be easy to get stranded if the wind isn’t strong enough to bring you back to shore.”