A FISHERMEN had a miraculous escape when he fell overboard five miles off the west Cornwall coast this afternoon.

Nathan Rogers, from Porthleven, had fallen overboard whilst repositioning nets, but managed to hang on to netting over hydraulic hoses and with the boat's autopilot bound for Newlyn, he clung on while it returned to port.

Emergency 999 calls to Falmouth Coastguard from vigilant members of the public close to Sandy Cove, including an 11 year-old who had witnessed him in the sea, had indicated that the vessel had hit the south side of the south Pier in Newlyn and that there was a man in the water nearby.

Penzance Coastguards were tasked to attend the scene along with Penlee All-weather Lifeboat, which was already in service towing a broken down Crabber, which had a net tangled in its propeller, back to Newlyn.

Also in the area and having observed the situation was the local fishing boat Dream Catcher, which located the man in the water and secured him to the side of the boat until Penlee Lifeboat crew members were able to haul him from the sea.

Once safely on board, the fisherman, who is well known in Newlyn, was taken to Newlyn to be treated for hypothermia in an ambulance for an hour before being taken to hospital.

He was later allowed to return home to recover.

A spokesman from Penlee Lifeboat said this afternoon: "Nathan Rogers is recovering well at home with his family.

"He’s extremely grateful to the skipper of the Dream Catcher, 11 year old Louis-Matisse who raised the alarm, and to Coxswain Patch Harvey and the Penlee crew.

Nathan also extends his thanks for all your good wishes and messages of support.

"We just love his ‘Shipwrecked' shirt - a present from his wife."

Some damage had occurred to Nathan's boat in the collision with the south pier.

The lifeboat towed her back to Newlyn, then returned to the Crabber to tow her into Newlyn.