WHITBY lifeguards have saved the life of a young boy who was caught in a rip current and dragged out to sea in Saturday afternoon.

The seven year old boy fell into the water from rocks near Whitby Pier, at about 4pm, but was soon spotted by a quick-thinking member of the public who threw him a life ring to hold on to.

RNLI lifeguards then swam out to the boy and brought him back to shore. The boy wasn't breathing so lifeguards started CPR.

After just one rescue breath the boy began breathing on his own again, and he was flown to hospital by the air ambulance.

Lifeguard Christie Milner said: "Thanks to the quick actions of the lifeguards and members of the public the casualty was quickly pulled from the water.

"It is very unusual for anyone who isn’t breathing to start breathing again on their own after just one rescue breath but it’s a fantastic result. We all wish him a speedy recovery."