Battling jellyfish stings, severe chafing, and multiple injuries, the Galway man swam 1,468 kilometres over the course of five months. 

A passerby heard the swimmer shouting for help, and made an emergency call to the Coast Guard.

The RNLI said they were supporting the search involving three young men.

The search will continue on Wednesday morning for a woman in her 30s who was also caught up in the same incident.

The search is continuing for a woman in her early 30s who also went missing after going for a swim.