Watch: Girl's incredible rescue by ferry after being swept out to sea on inflatable unicorn

A young girl was rescued by ferry crew after she was swept out to see on a giant inflatable unicorn.

A young girl was rescued by ferry crew after she was swept out to sea on a giant inflatable unicorn.

The young girl, believed to be about 5, was playing in the water off the Greek coast when she was swept more than 800m from shore.

When her panicked mum and dad realised she had drifted out to sea, they called the local ferry asking if they could help rescue her.

The ferry, which was performing its regular route, approached her and captain Grigoris Karnesis positioned the vessel so the current gently pushed the girl, who was wearing inflatable arm floaties but no life jacket, toward it.

Crew members then plucked the girl and the blow up floating unicorn from the water and reunited her with her worried parents.

É cada coisa inacreditável. pic.twitter.com/Slul40PDtr

— Vladimir Aras 🏡 🇺🇳 (@VladimirAras) August 26, 2020

The incident took place on Sunday in the sea area off the town of Antirio in the Gulf of Corith.

Captain Karnesis said the girl was frightened, but remained calm during the ordeal which may have saved her life.

"The child was flabbergasted," he told Skai TV.

"She was terrified, and that is why she had grabbed so firmly onto her inflatable swing ring."

The girl was rescued more than 800m out at sea by ferry crew. Photo / Twitter

He brushed off suggestions he had done anything noteworthy, saying he only did what anyone would do.

"I'm obligated to do it, not because of the nature of my work, but as a person," he said.

"There is no need for someone to thank me.

"I did something that any one of us would do."