Deer oh deer - pleasure boats rescued a muntjac which swam out to sea.

Eastern Daily Press: The rescued deer is brought ashore by Roger Tipple. Picture: Charlotte HarringtonThe rescued deer is brought ashore by Roger Tipple. Picture: Charlotte Harrington (Image: Archant)

Crew and passengers on the Wash Monster spotted the animal swimming off Hunstanton on Sunday afternoon.

William Searle, from Searles Seatours, said: 'We were going out whan I saw what I thought was a seal out there.

'There were jet skis and power boats going past it so I thought why isn't it going under - there must be something wrong with it.'

Mr Searle radioed Wizzy, one of his other vessels, to investigate.

Eastern Daily Press: The muntjac on board Wizzy. Picture: Roger TippleThe muntjac on board Wizzy. Picture: Roger Tipple (Image: Archant)

'I said do a man overboard if you can get near it,' he said. 'It took them 20 minutes.'

The creature was rescued with a line and taken to the Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, looking none the worse for its dip.

It was placed in a seal box and taken to the RSPCA's Norfolk Wildlife Hospital at East Winch, near King's Lynn.