Tenby coastguards responded to a 999 call from a member of the public who reported a person in difficulty just off the the town's South Beach on Monday afternoon.
The 33-year-old male in question, from Cwmbran, was on holiday with his family and staying at Kiln Park.
He was spotted sunbathing on a rubber ring which had been taken 400 yards offshore by a north-westerly wind to around the Giltar Point area.
The gentleman appeared to panic when he became aware of his position, and was also suffering from cramp.
He was recovered by a safety vessel transiting the area at the time and taken back to shore, where he was checked over by the coastguard's medical team.