A 17-year-old boy was taken to hospital yesterday after becoming unwell while swimming in New Brighton.

Coastguards were alerted to the incident at around 4.48pm by New Brighton lifeboats team after the swimmer began displaying signs of hypothermia.

It is not clear at this stage how the young boy found himself in difficulty but it is thought he may have hit his head.

A coastguard helicopter was deployed but was not needed.

The male was taken to hospital by ambulance with a dislocated ankle, and complaining of chest pains and feeling dizzy.

Police were called to assist, and a stretch of the beach was closed while they dealt with the incident.