A CHILD has died after flipping their inflatable toy at a local beach.

Paramedics were called to The Esplanade at Tin Can Bay, south of Fraser Island, just after 1pm on Sunday, reports Courier Mail.

It is believed the two children were riding on a rubber ring when the toy was blown away by the wind, a police spokesman said.

A middle-aged man attempted to rescue them but also became distressed. All three were pulled from the water by a man in a dinghy who witnessed the incident.

A nine year old boy died at the scene despite revival efforts while the other, an eight year old boy, was airlifted to Nambour General Hospital in a critical condition. The 49 year old man was taken by road to Gympie Hospital in a critical condition.

RIP. Our thoughts are with the families and all involved.

 UPDATE Police statement:

“Police are investigating after a nine-year-old boy drowned at Norman Point, near Tin Can bay this afternoon.

Early investigations indicate around 1.00pm, the deceased child and an eight-year-old boy were playing on a plastic inflatable toy when they lost contact with the toy and it blew away.

The children immediately began to struggle in high winds and deep water.

A 49-year-old man onshore observed the children in distress and swam to assist them, at which time he too began experiencing difficulties.

A man on a nearby yacht saw the incident occurring and used his attached tinny to travel to the distressed people.

After pulling all three aboard, he conveyed them to shore, where he and members of the public performed CPR until ambulance officers arrived.

The nine-year-old boy was declared deceased at the scene.

The eight-year-old boy was flown to Nambour Hospital in a critical condition.

The 49-year-old man was transported to Gympie Hospital in critical condition.”

UPDATE 15 Feb 2017 

The eight-year-old boy has now been released from hospital.

The child was flown to Nambour General Hospital in a critical condition on Sunday after the inflatable toy the two boys were playing with flipped and blew away with the wind at Norman Point, south of Fraser Island. His brother sadly died in the accident.

The 49-year-old who was taken to Gympie Hospital in a critical condition was discharged on Sunday night.

Call to ban them from beaches

Authorities are warning parents against these toys.

They might be fun, but they are very dangerous!

Lifeguards say they should never be used as a beach toy and are urging people to leave them for the pool.

Following the death of a mum of four in Adelaide in similar circumstances last week, it highlights how easy it is for the blow up toys to be swept up in a gust of wind, leaving lifeguards racing out to rescue people on a regular basis.

As a child my own father would NEVER allow us to take these inflatable toys to the beach. He had seen for himself far too often the dangers involved.  So I am also very wary with my own children.

Safety first. Leave them at home on your next beach trip.

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Image: Getty Images

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