Next time you're out on a floaty, make sure to stick close to the shoreline. Three adults got stranded four kilometres into Lake Ontario on their giant inflatable flamingo this week. The Hamilton Police rescue was made around 2 a.m. after they called 911.
While giant inflatable flamingos are great for that perfect Instagram pic, it looks like they also have their downsides.
According to a Hamilton Police press release, the group was a family, who ventured out together into the water at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday night.
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They brought an air horn and oars along with them but didn't bring any life jackets.
The trio ended up floating on the water for four hours and were unable to paddle back to shore.
When the water temperature started to cool off, they decided to call 911. The report says that large ships had also passed by them on the water, which was also a deciding factor to call for help.
Luckily, the search crew was able to locate them and nobody needed medical assistance.
Police shared a photo of the flamingo in question, and it looks almost as large as the cruisers in the background.
Despite the safe outcome, police are urging the public to not venture deep into the water on recreational toys.
Flotation devices should always be tied down when on an open body of water.
Inflatable rafts are best used near a back yard dock, but if in deep water, they can easily be carried away by the current.
"The stabilization and unpredictability of these leisure style floatation devices can be dangerous and untrustworthy," wrote Hamilton Police in the press release.
However, this isn't the first time that people have got themselves stranded on inflatable toys.
There was another rescue earlier this year after Ontarians got stuck on a toy boat in Lake Simcoe.
York Regional Police pulled all three out of the water without an issue.