A NORFOLK father has died after attempting to rescue his son and a young friend who got into difficulties while fishing off a coastline, coastguards said today.

A NORFOLK father has died after attempting to rescue his son and a young friend who got into difficulties while fishing off a coastline, coastguards said today.

The boys, aged about 10, were rescued by kayakers after getting out of their depth while catching shrimps at Sea Palling, between Cromer and Hemsby in Norfolk, on Saturday evening.

The 43-year-old man from nearby Stalham was spotted an hour later by a rescue helicopter as he clung to a buoy rope about 12ft from the beach, said a spokesman for Yarmouth Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

He was declared dead after being taken to hospital.