The father of three-time Olympic gold medallist Grant Hackett has confirmed his son was arrested after “raving and ranting” during “a breakdown” on the Gold Coast.

Hackett, who has regularly been in the headlines for the wrong reasons since retiring from swimming, was arrested by Queensland Police officers and driven to a Southport watch house.

He was later released from custody without charge, according to Sky News.

Hackett’s father, Nev, told the Gold Coast Bulletin that the 36-year-old had a “medical problem” and that he and his wife called the police to their home in Mermaid Waters.

“Grant’s got a medical problem, and it manifested itself here this morning … he was raving and ranting a bit,” he said.

“He’s been receiving treatment from a doctor. He’s big and powerful when he’s not happy.

“We decided he needed some treatment but there was no way he was going to go and get treatment this morning so we called the police.

“The only way the police can do anything under the law of the land is to arrest him for domestic violence.

“No one was touched, no property was damaged, he was raving and ranting a bit, but … He didn’t even make any threats but was not what you say is a normal person.”

Nev Hackett added that he thought his son would be released later on Wednesday evening, which proved to be correct.

“I’m told he’ll be discharged from the watch house in a couple of hours because he’s been tested and he’s met all the criteria to be discharged but still I think his doctor’s going to take him up to Pindara Hospital (on the Gold Coast),” he added.

“It’s what I’d call a bit of a breakdown.”

A Twitter post from the Seven Network’s news bureau in Sydney said “witnesses say he [Hackett] was ‘going off’ and stabbing a knife into a chopping block”.

But in footage from the same network, Hackett appeared drowsy and relaxed.

7 News at 6pm: Former Olympian Grant Hackett arrested by police on the Gold Coast. Taken to Southport police watchhouse. #7News pic.twitter.com/YM1jcx2czF

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) February 15, 2017

The incident comes less than a year after Hackett was alleged to have groped a passenger on the chest when under the influence of alcohol on a flight.

Hackett later admitted he “stuffed up” and apologised for his “pure stupidity”.

It came just days after he did not qualify for Australia’s swim team at the 2016 Olympic Games in a failed comeback bid.

Hackett originally retired in 2008 but announced in 2015 that he would return to the pool. He retired again in 2016.

The on-flight drama was not Hackett’s first troubles after his swimming career.

Police were called to his then-home in Melbourne in 2011 after a reportedly heated dispute with ex-wife Candice Alley that left the apartment “in disarray”.

In 2014, Hackett also revealed he had travelled to the United States for treatment for an addiction to sleeping pills.