A man was recovering in hospital yesterday after sparking a major air and sea rescue operation in Lytham.

The unnamed male - thought to be in his 40s - was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital suffering from hypothermia following the daring rescue by police and coastguard officials at around 9.30pm on Tuesday night.

It is believed he may have spent more than 40 minutes in freezing tides after walking out to sea from Lytham's Fairhaven Lake. He contacted staff at Blackpool police communications room on his mobile phone to report that he was becoming disorientated and anxious but was cut off after being dragged under water. Both the coastguard and police helicopters were scrambled immediately.

Communications team leader, Jason Barker said: "I managed to get back in contact with on his mobile phone but he could not tell me where he was other than that he was lying down in the water. After speaking to him for approximately 25 minutes, the helicopter managed to locate the male and, in conjunction with the Coastguard, the male was brought to safety."

The incident follows a similar rescue operation earlier this month when a 51-year-old man died after walking into the sea close to Blackpool's south pier.