AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy is in a serious condition after being rescued from the sea.

The youngster had been playing in the water on Appley Beach on the Isle of Wight when he got into difficulty shortly before 5.50pm.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and after treating him he was then airlifted to St Mary's Hospital in Newport at about 6.15pm by Solent Coastguard helicopter.

Later in the evening he was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where his condition was described as “critical but stable”.