A ferry crew rescued a migrant swimming in the Channel in a wetsuit.

Staff on the Pride of Canterbury spotted the man and the ship U-turned so that he could be hauled aboard.

French maritime officials were alerted to the incident yesterday (Monday) at around 9.40am British time.

It happened 20 km (12 miles) north of Calais.

The man, in his 30s, was found to be suffering from severe hypothermia.

The French navy helicopter Dauphin was called out and he was winched from the P&O Ferries vessel at 11.23am British time.

He was then flown to hospital in Calais.

Details have come from the French maritime authority for the Channel and North Sea la préfecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord.

A P&O Ferries spokesman added: “The crew of one of our ships travelling from Calais to Dover identified an individual in distress in the water.

"They launched a fast rescue boat to assist.

"The casualty was taken from the water alive and the French authorities sent a helicopter to attend to him from that point."

This now makes it the fifth migrant incident in four days and the rescued man is the 75th migrant to be rescued or intercepted in that time.

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