The lifeboat had to be launched over the weekend after calls came in to emergency services that a man had come into difficulty in the water.

A call to Morecambe's lifeboat team was received just after midnight on Friday after a man had been spotted close to the stone jetty.

Deputy launch authority, Chris Walton, authorised the launch of the inshore lifeboat under the helm of James Donnell and crew and as the lifeboat made its way to scene the crew were updated via comms that the man was face down in the water and unconscious.

When the crew arrives, police officers were already there, in the water, trying to assist the man onto the rocks.

At this point it was clear that the man was unresponsive.

The tide was coming-in fast and the police were forced to head back up the rocks to avoid being trapped by a fast incoming tide and becoming stuck in the mud as it was becoming knee deep.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: "Lifeboat crew immediately triaged the man who had started to come round and began administering oxygen.

"Arrangements were made with coastguard to obtain a basket stretcher which he was placed in.

"This situation tested the resilience and professionalism of all involved of all involved.

"The mud was becoming even more sticky and the incoming tide causing problems with kit trying to float away.

"The hovercraft arrived on scene and the crew along with coastguard transferred the man on the stretcher over to them."

The man, who was by that time conscious but poorly was handed over to the ambulance service.

Both vessels then returned to station and cleaned down ready for the next call.

Deputy Launch Authority Chris Walton said: “This was a tenacious effort by everyone involved from Lancashire Constabulary, Coastguard, North West Ambulance and Morecambe RNLI.

"Their efforts have undoubtedly saved this mans life”.