A MAN has died after falling in the sea.

North Yorkshire Police were contacted by HM Coastguard at about 12.25pm on Monday, November 6, after they were called to assist a fishing boat off the coast of Scarborough.

One of the crew from the fishing boat, a man aged in his 40s from Scarborough, had gone overboard into the sea.

He was recovered from the water by the Scarborough inshore lifeboat and then transferred to the Shannon class lifeboat.

He received medical assistance at the scene before being flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough by Coastguard Helicopter, where he was pronounced dead.

The rescue involved a large scale operation which involved four RNLI lifeboats from both Scarborough and Whitby.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is leading the investigation with support from North Yorkshire Police.

A police spokesman said they were not yet in a position to name the casualty.