VOLUNTEER lifeboat crews saved a vulnerable man after pulling him from the sea near Clacton Pier.

Both of Clacton’s lifeboats were launched after a call for help from police officers.

The officers asked for help with a vulnerable man who had made his way into the water, just after 8am on Tuesday morning.

Lifeboat crews reached the scene and managed to scoop the man out of the sea after he dropped below the surface.

A Clacton RNLI spokesman said: “Essex Police called for assistance with a vulnerable male in the water to the east side of Clacton pier clinging to one of the structural supports of the pier.

“The D Class lifeboat launched within minutes and soon arrived on scene after being guided in to the casualty by the police.

“The casualty was reluctant to get in the boat and was still clinging to the support, before plummeting underneath the surface of the water.

“As he did so the crew managed to grab the hood on his jacket and pull him back to the surface.”

The man was pulled onto the lifeboat, which was the beached on the east side of the pier by the helmsman, where police, paramedics and coastguards were waiting.

The ambulance service treated the man for wounds he sustained while clinging to the pier.

He was then taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.