A man fell asleep on a lilo in Scilla, in the southern Italian region of Calabria, and travelled across the Messina Strait to find himself off the coast in Messina, several kilometres away, Italian media report.

The 28-year-old was found still clinging to the lilo nine hours after his friend reported him missing at sea at Scilla.

Coast Guard vessels and helicopters were involved in the search and rescue operation.