Reports: MoD Police Rescue Drunk Man Trying To Swim To Cornwall

Ministry of Defence police have reportedly had to twice rescue an 'extremely drunk' man trying to swim from Devon to Cornwall.

A ferry was suspended after officers were sent to Devonport in Plymouth at 6.30am on Saturday morning.

Passengers on the Torpoint Ferry (above) then watched as the man repeatedly tried to swim away from his rescuers in the cold water, according to Devon Live.

The chain ferry carries cars and pedestrians across the River Tamar, between Devonport in Plymouth and Torpoint in Cornwall, a distance of up to 650 metres depending on the tides.

After the 22-year-old was eventually pulled into the MoD Police's boat and taken ashore, he managed to escape and jump back in the water.

The man, who appeared to be "extremely drunk", according to a Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman, was once again brought back to shore before being handcuffed and led away to a police van.

He was detained at the scene on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, before being taken to nearby Derriford Hospital for treatment as a precaution.