A MAN rescued from the sea by police had to be rescued again by the coastguard after he ran back into the water.

Rescue services swung into action at eight minutes past midnight this morning following reports of person in the sea at Long Rock, near Penzance.

The Penleee lifeboat was launched from Newlyn after a request from Falmouth Coastguard.

The all-weather lifeboat ‘Ivan Ellen’ and the Inshore lifeboat 'Mollie & Ivor Dent’ proceeded at speed across Mount’s Bay to the area where the man had entered the sea - a shoreline search was started by both lifeboats.

Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team and officers from Devon & Cornwall Police where also on scene - the police found the man quite quickly but he escaped and headed back towards the sea again.

Both lifeboats kept searching and eventually the man was located by the Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team.

The casualty, who was very cold and had swallowed a considerable amount of sea water, was taken to hospital by the police. Both lifeboats were stood down and returned to station in Newlyn at 01:05hrs.