Lifeboat volunteers used newly-donated equipment to rescue a man from the water in the early hours of the morning.

Crews from Looe RNLI launched both the charity’s inshore lifeboats at 3.24am on Saturday following reports of a man in the water off Seaton beach.

At 3.24 am yesterday morning HM Coastguard requested the launch of both Looe RNLI’s inshore lifeboats after receiving reports of a male in the water off Seaton beach.

Using the recently donated thermal imaging camera, the crews found the man close to the river mouth on Seaton beach.

He was returned to the beach very cold and wet.

After an initial medical assessment by the station doctor, who was one of the crew on the D Class lifeboat, the man was handed into the care of the Looe and Tamar Coastguard teams.

David Haines, Looe RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager, said he was delighted that this recent donation from Looe Boat Owners Association has already been used to great effect.

Both helms said the equipment had worked well.

Atlantic 85 crew: Clive Palfrey (helm), David Jackman, Matthew Jaycock and Jay Curtis.

D Class crew: Toby Bray (helm), Brian Bowdler and Dale Staff.