Visitors to a beach on the mid-north coast of New South Wales made a hasty retreat on Tuesday after spotting an eastern brown snake, one of the most venomous snakes in the world, emerge from the surf and glide along the sand.
The unusual incident occurred at One Mile beach at Forster. The unexpected arrival of the snake, which emerged right between the lifesaving flags, caused visitors to flee as lifeguards warned people away.
Beachgoer Olivia Moffatt said that visitors were initially afraid it was a shark when lifeguards blew their whistles.
"The snake travelled out of the water and remained on the shore for a while until waves washed up against it," she told the Great Lakes Advocate.
"Raising its head, it headed for shade towards the lifeguard trailer and happily sat there until again moving up along the beach to the bush."
Comment: See map of animal related events for the last month below (includes unusual migrations, die-offs, strange behaviour and attacks).