Fisherman rescued from rough seas off coast of Salcombe after falling overboard

A fisherman has been rescued from rough seas off the coast of Salcombe after falling overboard.

He had been in the water for an hour and rescue crews say the outcome could have been very different if he wasn't wearing a lifejacket.

The fisherman went overboard in the early hours of the morning and the boat he was on put out a distress signal just before 4.45am.

A rescue helicopter from Newquay was sent to search for him alongside two RNLI boats from Salcombe and Torbay.

A French Navy aircraft and a number of fishing vessels also responded to the distress signal issued by the coastguard and joined the search.

He was eventually found by his own crew at 5.45am and the Newquay Coastguard helicopter winched him from the water.

The fisherman was suffering from the cold and was flown to Plymouth Hospital.

HM Coastguard Duty Controller Dai Jones said: "This could have been a very different outcome today had he not been wearing his lifejacket and we commend his actions, which have assisted in saving his life. We wish him a speedy recovery."