Felixstowe's volunteer coast patrol rescued the 51-year-old from the freezing water

A 51-year-old windsurfer was saved from drowning today after being stranded at sea for nearly four hours.

The man was windsurfing off the Felixstowe coast, near the mouth of the River Deben, this morning when he apparently lost his rig and became stranded.

He spent around four hours in the freezing cold water before another windsurfer passed by and heard his cries for help.

The Felixstowe Volunteer coast patrol was alerted at around 3.10pm and immediately went to the man’s aid, bringing him in to shore and leaving him in the care of paramedics who treated him for hypothermia.