A force spokeswoman said: "Police were called to reports of a body in the sea off the coast of
Staithes.
Staithes Coastguard added: "Numerous calls were made after a section of the cliff fell."
North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire Brigade,
Staithes Coastguard, both Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North East Ambulance Service attended along with the RNLI and air ambulance.
Shortly after raising the alarm on Thursday afternoon, they were rescued when the
Staithes and Runswick branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) came to their aid.
Staithes Coastguard, pictured here during the dramatic rescue
The parish of Dunston was formed in 1872, gas lamps were first lit three years later, in 1893 Dunston
Staithes were completed, and four years later a police station opened.
The last time the
staithes was open to the public was during the 1990 Gateshead National Garden Festival.
It was the highlight of several hours in the small boat as part of a new Catch and Cook weekend being run by the Endeavour, a "restaurant with rooms" in
Staithes.
Staithes and Runswick RNLI launched a rescue operation and confirmed a body had been recovered.
Staithes Coastguard said: "Numerous calls were made after a section of the cliff fell." Lifeboat charity the RNLI added: "The RNLI can confirm volunteer crew members responded to a rock fall at Seaton Garth in
Staithes this afternoon.
The nine-metre-high black cone will remain on the listed Dunston
Staithes in Gateshead until at least September, although there are hopes that this will be extended into next year.
The body was recovered from the sea half a mile from
Staithes