A British holidaymaker has been rescued from the Atlantic after apparently trying to swim to her cruise liner when it left port without her.

The 65-year-old is said to have jumped into the icy water and tried to reach the vessel after changing her mind about cutting short her holiday following a row with her husband.

Local press named her as Susan Brown. She was recovering in hospital on Monday in the Madeiran capital Funchal after being rescued by fishermen suffering hypothermia.

She was reportedly clinging to a small bag when she was pulled out of the water around 8pm on Saturday.

Funchal port captain Felix Marques told local press she had been a passenger on board the Marco Polo cruise ship, operated by Cruise & maritime Voyages, with her husband.

They reportedly rowed after the vessel docked in Funchal and she travelled to the island’s airport before changing her mind about leaving the ship and making her crazy attempt to swim to it.