Swimming flight ends in cuffs

The man who found time to take off his shoes before swimming away from pursuing police is in their custody after the Coastguard intervened.

Police were escorted aboard the Coastguard’s RIB out to the Wave Dancer launch where the man, estimated to be aged in his 20s, had swum away to.

Police cuff the man who swam away from them.

Once completing the 100m swim to the launch from The Strand reclamation car park, opposite the Crown and Badger pub, bystanders saw the man hang his socks out to dry.

In the initial pursuit, the man had run to the water’s edge, removed his shoes and dived into the water at about 12.45pm.

Police called to the man from the car park, advising he should return to shore to avoid the risk of drowning.

He did not comply.

Three police units gathered in the car park and picked up the man’s shoes as they waited for the Coastguard-aided on-water response.

The man stepped onto the Coastguard’s RIB peacefully.

When it arrived at about 1.10pm, onboard police were able to entice the man onto the vessel to bring him back to shore.

A group of 20-30 people watched the situation unfold from the car park.

It is not known if the man was reunited with his shoes at the car park.

It is unclear what the catalyst for the pursuit was.

Police at The Strand reclamation carpark.