We're seeing more and more stories about the dangers of big inflatable floats. These giant ducks, swans, and unicorns look fun to float on, but they can turn a sunny day into a nightmare.
In 2018, a Florida mom named Tara Myers took her son on a giant inflatable swan raft. The current ended up sweeping them several miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. Tara said she'd never been more frightened in her life.
Now a similar story is being shared across the country. A little boy was with his mother and another child on Lake Michigan, floating on a yellow inflatable duck, and he either hopped or fell off the float. His frantic mother tried to grab him. But within seconds, she had lost hold of the float, and the other boy drifted away until he was about 150 yards from the shore.
More from LittleThings: Adorable Little Boy Can't Wait For Trash Day To See His Best Friend, The Garbage Man
David Benjamin, a water safety instructor who just so happened to be at the same beach, saw what was happening and bolted into action. He called out to the on-duty lifeguard and quickly utilized his paddleboard. As he paddled further into the lake, he could see the little boy was absolutely terrified. "He was grabbing the head of the duck, I can see he's full crying mode, stomping his feet," he told Inside Edition.
Then things took an even scarier turn. The duck flipped over, dumping the toddler into the lake. That's when more beachgoers turned into heroes, working together to pull the boy to safety.
