A MAJOR search operation was launched in Essex today after a man fell into a river and contracted hypothermia.

A MAJOR search operation was launched in Essex today after a man fell into a river and contracted hypothermia.

Emergency services mobilised at around 10.50am to reports that the man had fallen off his dinghy near Brandy Hole in the River Crouch.

The man was later found suffering from hypothermia after he had climbed on board another boat, according to a spokesman for the coastguard service. He was taken to hospital, where he is believed to be recovering.

The Burnham-on-Crouch lifeboat, Southend coastguard, Essex Ambulance Service and the search and rescue helicopter from Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk all took part in the search.