A swimmer spent more than an hour in the sea off Gwynedd after getting into difficulty,
The man, 51, a doctor from Abergele, Conwy, was treated for mild hypothermia after being rescued by lifeboat off Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog.
His wife and another woman swimming with him managed to reach the shore.
The RAF helicopter crew, which located the man, said he lost the use of his arms in the water but his medical training helped him stay calm.
He did not need hospital treatment.
Flt Lt Giles Ratcliffe, the Sea King helicopter co-pilot, said the man had lost the use of his arms but being a doctor knew what to do, didn't panic and lay on his back kicking his feet gently.
Carl Hiltunen, Holyhead coastguard's watch manager, said: "The swift location and recovery...was an incredibly successful rescue, and the welfare of the casualty is a credit to the speed and efficiency of all units who responded.
"Certainly if it had not been for the rapid response of all resources involved this incident could have had a very different outcome."
Criccieth coastguard rescue team were called to the scene to help Black Rock Sands beach patrol, while Criccieth lifeboat was launched.
However, they were unable to find the swimmer and the RAF helicopter was called in, which then directed the lifeboat to the man.
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