A man was hauled from the River Tay beside the V&A on Tuesday night after jumping into the water to escape Tesco staff who caught him stealing from the supermarket.

Police, fire, ambulance and coastguard crews were called to the newly completed museum shortly before 8pm, after reports of a man falling in the river further downstream at Tesco.

The man was found by emergency services in the water by the V&A design museum, but he reportedly attempted to swim away from them towards Fife with a life-ring around him.

A spokesman said: “Police Scotland along with other emergency services attended at Dundee Riverside around 7.45pm on Tuesday night in response to reports of a man in the water.

“The 57-year-old initially refused to engage with rescue services, however was taken from the water after about 20 minutes, and was then conveyed to Ninewells Hospital for treatment.”

RNLI Broughty Ferry’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats were also dispatched, as were coastguard teams from St Andrews and Carnoustie.

Following a 25-minute operation co-ordinated between the emergency services, the man was pulled from the freezing cold waters. His condition was unknown at the time of going to press.

An eyewitness said: “I heard the police say a man fell in the river at Tesco and he swam all the way up to the V&A where they pulled him out.

“Everybody was here — the police, the ambulance, fire service, boats. They pulled the guy out and took him away in an ambulance.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said their assistance was requested by the Scottish Ambulance Service at 7.52pm.

She added: “Coastguard were also deployed, as were the police and RNLI. One male was removed from the water.”

A coastguard spokesman added: “We got the call at 7.50pm, and dispatched Broughty Ferry all weather and inshore lifeboats. We also tasked Carnoustie and St Andrews but the incident was resolved before they arrived.

“One male was lifted from the water and we were called off at around 8.10pm.”