A MAN who was seen "clinging" to the Llandudno Pier was saved by a lifeboat crew in a "time critical rescue".

Llandudno RNLI lifeboat doctor Barbara Saunderson was tasked to launch by HM Holyhead Coastguard at 10.35am this morning.

The volunteer crew of three were asked to search and locate a swimmer in peril who had been seen by a member of the public "clinging" to Llandudno Pier.

The experienced swimmer had suffered leg cramps and was being "pushed away" from the safety of the shore due to prevailing offshore winds.

The lifeboat reached the casualty as quickly as possible, and recovered him from the water before returning him to the lifeboat station

Station mechanic and helm of the inshore lifeboat, Luke Heritage, said: "This really was a time critical rescue, we were able to locate the casualty by seeing the small crowd of people that had gathered on the pier and were pointing to the location.

"We could just see the orange swimming float that he had with him.

"When we approached, the casualty was holding on to the struts underneath the pier, managing to keep his head just above the water in the swell that had built up."