When packing for your holidays, a picture-perfect float is basically a staple in the suitcase nowadays alongside your towel and your factor 50.
But now lifeguards are warning that travellers should avoid taking their inflatables into the sea with them, following a shocking incident which left two girls' lives in danger.
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RNLI lifeguard supervisor Cameron Foreman said: "It is important to remember that, although inflatables are fun at the swimming pool, they are not designed for outdoor water use, as they can easily get caught up in a rip-current or offshore wind.
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"We strongly urge the public to not take inflatables out to sea, and to make sure that they remain in-between the red and yellow flags when swimming."
The warning comes after a massive rescue mission was launched earlier this week to save a pair of 12-year-old twins after they fell off their float while in the sea.
Evie and Lola Taylor, 12, were playing on a blow up unicorn while on holiday at Botany Bay in Broadstairs, Kent, when a huge gust of wind swept them out to sea.
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The girls then toppled off the magical creature into the choppy waters, before RNLI lifeguard Josh Jones, 18, heard them screaming and dove in to help them.
Lifeboats and helicopters were quickly sent to the scene to lend a hand, and the crew soon found the girls' father Ben frantically searching for them in the water alongside the deserted float, before eventually retrieving the girls, too.
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The heroic lifeguard managed to keep the pair afloat until a Dutch couple arrived on a dinghy to transport them to safety.
Recalling the incident, Josh said: "It was scary. When I started paddling out they were so far away.
"I was starting to get tired and all I could hear was the girls screaming.
"It was very nerve-wracking but I couldn't let that stop me because I wanted to make sure the girls were okay."
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Highlighting just how bad things could have been, the twins' dad said that he feared they wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for Josh and the crew.
"If it wasn't for Josh, I wouldn't have them here now," he emotionally said.
"As soon as he was on the boat with the girls they were all smiles. He was fantastic.
"As a parent, it's the scariest thing that can ever happen.
"I don't care what people have to say about me - they can call me stupid, whatever - because my girls are safe, and they're safe because of Josh, the crew, the Dutch couple."
We'll be restricting all unicorn lounging to the pool from now on, then...
Featured Image Credit: Credit: PexelsTopics: Life News