The man, understood to be a Libyan national, was spotted 18 miles from the coast by a passing container ship, which alerted the coastguard to his presence.

The man is understood to have left the Netherlands three days earlier but lost power as he approached the Norfolk coast after a crossing of around 110 miles.

Sources say the man was found severely dehydrated as he had run out of water two days before he was located on the morning of August 1.

The man arrived was spotted off the coast of Caister (Image: Geograph)

First aid had to be administered.

He was brought ashore at Caister by lifeboat before being arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

Norfolk police said he was taken to Yarmouth police station before later being handed over to immigration services.

Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth – whose constituency includes Caister – highlighted the incident in a post on Facebook earlier this week.

Rupert........

© Eastern Daily Press