A young child was seen drifting helplessly out to sea on an inflatable unicorn by horrified onlookers who sparked a massive rescue operation in Scotland.
Coastguard teams rushed to the scene after reports that a youngster had been blown far from the beach by winds in North Ayrshire, around 4pm last Sunday.
Luckily a paddleboarder and a jet skier had also seen the child in distress off Stevenston Beach and were able to come to the rescue, reported the Daily Record.
The Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team, alongside Ayr Coastguard Rescue Team, Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 199 and Troon RNLI Lifeboat all responded to the emergency but fortunately the child had already been pulled from the water.
On the beach volunteers had then gone to the child's aid and in case any further medical care was required, a helicopter had been sent out to drop off two paramedics.
Photos taken at the scene, which were shared on social media, show at least two coastguard vehicles parked on the beach while the rescue effort takes place.
The aircraft in question can also be seen standing stationary on the sand, while crew members looked on. Another image shows two volunteers posing with the now-deflated unicorn dinghy.
It is understood that the child did not suffer any significant injuries or need hospital treatment, and thanks to the quick thinking of the paddleboarder and jet skier, was soon reunited with their family.
A coastguard spokesperson said the ordeal once again "highlights the dangers" of bringing inflatables to the beach - and is a reminder of how things can change in an instant for those in the water when the weather takes a turn for the worst.
Kevin Paterson, Station Officer of the Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team, said: “We continue to urge the public to leave inflatables at home when visiting the coast – they are designed for the swimming pool, not the sea.
“This incident highlights once again the dangers and how a sudden change in wind direction can quickly turn a pleasant afternoon at the beach into a serious emergency situation.
“The quick thinking of the paddleboarder and the jet skier also undoubtedly had a significant positive impact on this incident and we extend our thanks to everyone who was able to assist."
