A MAN died and his wife was fighting for her life today after their jet ski hit a pier at Blackpool.

Ian Hales, aged 47 and his 46-year-old wife Deborah, who suffered serious head and multiple injuries, were rescued from the sea by a lifeboat crew.

Police believe the Bolton couple's jet ski went out of control and ploughed into a steel support under Blackpool's North Pier.

Mr Hales, who had been riding the powerful craft, was taken to Blackpool's Victoria Hospital but was dead on arrival from his injuries. Paramedics had battled to revive him.

Mrs Hales, who had been a passenger on the jet ski, was in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit today.

A hospital spokesman said: "Family members are at her bedside. That is all they want me to say."

The tragedy happened at 3pm on Good Friday as the couple, of Stockdale Grove, Breightmet, enjoyed the Bank Holiday sunshine at the resort.

The Coastguard said the jet ski was registered at Windermere in the Lake District. It is believed that it was owned by the couple, who have three children.

A police inquiry was continuing today to establish what caused the collision, which was witnessed by hundreds of day-trippers.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "There are a number of witnesses and we are collating their statements."

Police said they had received "numerous" mobile phone calls from onlookers who witnessed the collision.

The rescue operation involved police, coastguards, beach patrols and in-shore lifeboat crews. The police spokesman added: "The rescue operation was launched very quickly and everything possible was done to get them out of the water quickly."

Mr and Mrs Hales were taken to an ambulance waiting by the shore and rushed to hospital.

A coastguard spokesman said today: "An RNLI team rescued a man and a woman from the water near to Blackpool's North Pier.

"They were handed over to Lancashire ambulance service and it is now a police matter. The craft was registered to them at Windermere in the Lake District."

Police were examining the jet ski today.

Today, neighbours paid tribute to Mr Hales and one woman said she was hoping his wife would recover soon.

She added: "They were a nice couple and very friendly. We knew that they had gone away for the weekend but we did not know about this. It is terrible."

The couple have five children: Michael, aged 28, Jason, aged 26, Martin, aged 22, Joanne, aged 18, and Matthew, aged 17.

In a statement released today, Michael and Jason said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened.

"We have been greatly comforted by the many messages of support from friends and colleagues."