A migrant had to be plucked from freezing waters off the French coast.

It happened within the first couple of hours of the new decade just outside Calais.

The victim's cries for help were heard by a witness at the port who raised the alarm.

The migrant was just 500 metres outside the port and coastguards were alerted at 1am (midnight BST) on New Year's Day.

A mayday was also sent out for nearby ships to look out in case the victim drifted out to sea.

The man was picked up by a French coastal patrol vessel at 1.30am (12.30am BST).

He was found to be suffering from hypothermia.

He was brought ashore to France for medical treatment and handed over to border police.

Details were provided on the website of the French maritime authority la préfecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord.

This is the latest of several cases of migrants intercepted by French authorities and returned to their country for assessment.

Kent Online's own count says that nearly 1,600 migrants arrived on the east Kent coast, or immediately neighbouring Susssex area, during all 2019.

These added up to119 incidents known to and reported by Kent Online.

These have been cases on people landing on the east Kent coast, from Thanet to Romney Marsh, and the Sussex area bordering our county.

The figure also includes those rescued at sea by the Border Force and brought into Dover for assessment, processing and interview.

It does not include cases,like today's, off the coast of France and involving only French authorities.

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