A MAN who thrown from his dinghy was rescued from Walney Channel late last night.  

Furness Coastguard and Barrow RNLI were called out just before 11pm after reports of a man being overdue back to Piel Island after ferrying friends had already returned. 

The alarm was raised after no contact had been made with the man for 40 minutes. 

Furness Coastguard and two Barrow RNLI Rescue boats started searches. 

A number of white rocket flares were used to illuminate search areas. Furness Coastguard carried out shoreline searches from the north. 

While Barrow RNLI searched south of the Channel and moored up yachts. 

After around 40 minutes of searching Barrow RNLI located the man holding on to his dinghy after it had been overturned by a wave. 

The crews said he had manged to get on top of the dinghy but was cold and wet with hypothermia starting to set in. 

RNLI transported the casualty back to their boat house at Roa Island where he was treated and cared for by both RNLI and Furness Coastguard until handed over to North West Ambulance Service. 

The crews said that luckily the man was wearing his life jacket and was well equipped. Without this they say it could of quite easily been a different outcome.