A woman who was rescued by the Dutch coast guard at some six nautical miles, or around 11 kilometres off the coast of Scheveningen on Wednesday, said she ‘just went for a swim’.

She was spotted calling for help by a small Belgian pleasure yacht, but the crew were unable to get her on board, and then called in the emergency services.

The woman, who is still recuperating in hospital, did not go overboard as had been assumed earlier, the coast guard told local broadcaster Omroep West.

She didn’t mean to end up as far from the shore as she did, a spokesman said. She probably lost her bearings or was perhaps towed further out by a current. She was, at any rate ‘lucky to be alive,’ he said.

The maritime police are investigating the case.