A rescue helicopter was alerted

The boy was on an inflatable which was blown out to sea at Fairlie, in North Ayrshire, on Thursday.

His father tried to rescue him by swimming out but the inflatable had been swept too far out by the current.

The coastguard alerted a rescue helicopter and the in-shore lifeboat at Largs.

A broadcast was also issued by Clyde Coastguard and four local boats responded.

'Offshore wind'

The youngster, who was left shocked but was otherwise unhurt, was picked up by a boat from the Cumbrae Watersports Centre.

Stuart Atkinson, Watch Manager at Clyde Coastguard, said: "With the temperatures reaching 20 degrees Celsius and attracting many visitors to our recreational beaches here in the west coast of Scotland our concerns are raised when this is coupled with an offshore wind.

"Any small inflatable can be swept out to sea very quickly which in the past led to tragic results.

"Parents are warned to keep a close eye on these types of craft and, if possible, try to tether them to the shoreline."