Members of the public are being urged not to drink and swim after a man drowned off the south west Wales coast on Sunday evening.

Thirty-year-old Rory Ryan, from Pontardawe, south west Wales, had been enjoying a birthday celebration with friends when he jumped off the sea wall at the Mumbles in Swansea.

The Mumbles is a popular tourist destination

A member of the public called 999 at 2000 BST on Sunday after seeing him disappear under the water.

A major search and rescue operation was launched but, after two hours, Mr Ryan's body was spotted trapped in a cavity in the sea wall.

Eye-witnesses reported he had been seen drinking in nearby pubs before the incident.

Before the emergency services had arrived, two passers-by jumped into the water to try to save Mr Ryan.

Do not drink and drown is our watchword all the time

Coastguard James Instance

Two lifeboats and two helicopters took part in the rescue attempt.

"In a launch to a situation like this, time is critical," said Ritchie Webborn, senior helmsman on the Mumbles inshore lifeboat.

"Obviously when we got onto the scene we started searching immediately but to no avail."

The man was reported to have dived into the water and was seen swimming near the sea wall.

Coastguards said they were told he had swum out about 20 yards before two members of the public saw him disappearing.

Ritchie Webborn: "Time is critical"

"Despite the valiant efforts of two people who jumped in to locate him, they were unsuccessful," said Swansea coastguard James Instance.

The man's body was not found until some hours later when it was discovered on the shore as the tide began to ebb.

Mr Instance added: "We do believe that alcohol was a factor.

"It's one of the things we try to push every year that you shouldn't mix and going to the water in any aspect - whether that be on boats or swimming.

"Do not drink and drown is our watchword all the time."