A SEAFRANCE rescue lifeboat saved the life of a man who jumped off a P&O ferry travelling from Dover to Calais into the Channel.

The passenger was seen falling from the Pride of Dover ferry which was half way to France at 3.10pm on Saturday.

Dover Coastguard was contacted and a major search and rescue operation was launched.

Coastguard Tom Flower said: "SeaFrance ferries Rodin and Nord Pas De Calais, the P&O ferry, Dover lifeboat, a rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk and a couple of cargo vessels assisted in the search.

"Crew on the SeaFrance Rodin sighted him in the water, then launched their rescue boat and picked him up."

The man, who had a life ring with him as he fell into the sea, was picked up 45 minutes later and taken to Rodin, which was heading towards Dover. He had no injuries despite the bitterly cold water temperature.

The helipcopter landed on Rodin’s on board helipad and he was transferred to the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

The hospital said the man, thought to be in his 30s, was in a stable condition and able to speak to police.

"He is safe and well," said a Kent Police spokesman. "He is undergoing psychiatric assessment and appears to have jumped because he heard voices inside his head."

Spokeswomen for P&O and SeaFrance said emergency procedures had gone to plan.