Calls were made to emergency services at around 13:30 saying that a swimmer had jumped from the Castle Emplacement sea wall into Havelet Bay and was struggling in the conditions.

Police and Coastguard officers were dispatched to the scene, while both the St Peter Port all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat were launched.

Upon hearing Guernsey Coastguard’s ‘MAYDAY’ message, the visiting Polar Research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough – which at the time was south of St Martin’s Point – also offered the assistance of one of its fast rescue craft.

Guernsey Coastguard said the man was swiftly rescued by police officers, who used a life-ring mounted on the harbour wall nearby to bring him to safety. 

It has been confirmed that a paramedic crew from the St John Emergency Ambulance Service attended the incident. The man was assessed by clinicians but did not require transfer to hospital and was discharged on scene.