Mystery Solved: Naked Swimmer Was Member Of Ship's Crew

Image courtesy: Torbay Coastguard.

The Royal Navy has confirmed that a sailor swam back to his ship in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A Coastguard team were called out after the naked swimmer was spotted and recognised in the water before he reached the ship.

The man was seen heading towards Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset in Torbay, Devon.

The vessel was in the bay as the guardship for the Torbay Airshow, when the alarm was raised just after 5.20am.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency alerted the coastguard after the man was seen taking off his clothes, and entering the water around Princess Pier, in nearby Torquay.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "We kept observations whilst Torbay ILB spoke to the person who climbed aboard the frigate.

"He planned to collect his clothes later in the day from Torquay harbour authorities."

The individual in question was unharmed and the Royal Navy has said the ship is looking into the circumstances.