At 1255 on Thursday 25th July, Guernsey Coastguard received a call from a member of the public expressing concern for a male swimmer off Lihou Island. The swimmer had swum from L'Eree to Lihou and got halfway back before returning to Lihou. Once back on the shore he appeared extremely exhausted and in some difficulty.
As Lihou Island causeway is was closed due to tide due to tidal restrictions, the RNLI's St Peter Port Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was launched at 13:15 local time and proceeded at speed to Lihou to render assistance to the swimmer.
Guernsey Police officers attended the Lihou Headland and met with the first informant. Shortly after the ILB launched the swimmer re-entered the water and made his way to a passing fishing boat which picked him up and took him back to the headland. St John paramedics and police met him on arrival and St Peter Port ILB was subsequently stood down.
The Lihou Island causeway opening and closing times can be found on the States of Guernsey's website. The times are also published by the Guernsey Press newspaper, and broadcast on BBC Radio Guernsey during their breakfast programme starting from 6am/7am local time.