Cooling off: The red deer stag makes its way across Duporth Bay near St Austell, CornwallAt first they couldn't quite work out what mystery creature was out at sea.
A seal? A swimmer?
But no, a quarter of a mile out off the Cornish coast, a stag was having a swim.
Rich Brown, 31, spotted the red deer making its way across Duporth Bay near St Austell, Cornwall, on Saturday, while out with a group of friends.
Is that really a deer? Photographer Rich Brown used the zoom on his camera to work out what he was seeingBy using the zoom on his camera he was able to get a clear view of its head and antlers as it made its way through the sea water followed by a flock of seagulls.
'I just couldn't tell what it was at first,' he said. 'It looked odd - like the creature from the deep.
'Then when I managed to zoom in it became clear it was a red deer - but it looked very strange out there.
Made it: The stag dries itself on the beach after completing its journey'It was way out - I'd say about 300 metres out. I've no idea how it got there but it was being followed by a flock of seagulls that were flying low over it.
'There was nothing else in the sea anywhere near it at the time and it was pretty flat.
'It was just the weirdest thing. I've never seen anything like it before - none of us had.'
Deer are very competent swimmers and have been recorded travelling at up to 13 miles per hour in the water.
The stag eventually hauled itself out of the sea and on to rocks after completing its journey across the bay - and then stayed there to dry off.
Mr Brown added: 'It seemed none the worse for wear - it looked fine.
'It was still there when we left. I've no idea where it came from or how it came to be in the sea but it was a very hot day so maybe it went for a cooling dip.'
source: dailymail
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