All the pupils attended Walker Technology College

A dozen pupils from Walker Technical College were rescued from the sea off Druridge Bay, near Amble on Thursday.

At one point some of the teenagers tried to form a human chain so stranded members of the party could reach the shore.

The Health and Safety Executive and Newcastle City Council have begun investigations into the incident.

Helicopter flight

There were 12 teenagers and one teacher in the party, eight of whom were airlifted by helicopter to Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington.

The pupils, aged between 13 to 17, were all said by the city council to be "safe" and were treated for symptoms of hypothermia.

One 13-year-old girl was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital after swallowing water.

She is expected to leave hospital on Friday.

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: "The school has contacted parents of the youngsters involved."

Human chain

It is believed the youngsters had been on the beach before some of the group had entered the water.

The rescue followed the death, less than 24-hours earlier, of a five-year-old boy a few miles away in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

The rescue came after the coastguard received an emergency call from a mobile telephone, thought to be from the leader of an educational group in the area.

A spokesman for the coastguard said the group was part of a college party and that some of the teenagers had got into difficulty in the sea.

He said others had formed a human chain to try and get them out and that the rescue was hampered by poor visibility.

A lifeboat crew was also scrambled to assist in the rescue.