10-month-old baby girl floats out to sea

Melda Ilgin was seated in an inflatable child's toy when strong winds caused her to drift away from the shore. Photo / Daily Telegraph

A 10-month-old baby girl was rescued off the coast of Turkey today after her flotation device was swept a half mile out to sea.

Melda Ilgin was seated in an inflatable child's toy when strong winds caused her to drift away from the shore.

Her parents and others watching on the beach reacted with horror as the yellow inflatable was carried further and further out to sea with the child still sitting atop it.

The Turkish coast guard was then called to the scene, and a man jumped from the rescue boat to carry her to safety.

The Ilgin family had placed the child in the flotation device and were apparently settling in on the beach when they realised she was not where they left her.

The winds had picked up on the beach, near the town of Kucukkuyo on the Aegean Sea, and were carrying her toward the Greek island of Lesbos, some 15 miles in the distance.

Several people attempted to swim out to save her, but were unable to. By the time the coast guard arrived, she was about a half mile out to sea.

Fortunately, they found her unharmed, still sitting in the inflatable craft.

By that time dozens of onlookers had gathered, and they watched as the baby girl was returned to her parents.

Her mother held her and offered her water, and then the family departed the beach.