Terrifying moment an enraged seal attacks screaming tourists swimming at South African beach

Shocking video has emerged of a baby seal viciously attacking a child and a woman at a popular South African beach.

Footage shows the enraged animal charging at a child playing in the shallows at the beach in Cape Town and trying to bite him as a man shouted ‘get out of the water’.

Onlookers screamed before two men came to the rescue, causing the animal to flee.

But a woman can then be heard crying out as the creature went on to attack her in the sea. She attempted to push it off but failed, which prompted a group of witnesses to help.

A man eventually grabbed the animal by its flippers and tossed it back into the water as the woman was carried to safety.

Someone can be heard saying ‘aw cutie’ just seconds before the seal tries to bite a child 

Lifeguards at Clifton Beach treated two people for bite wounds on Tuesday following an incident involving a ‘seal pup’ 

Just seconds before the rampage started, someone could be heard saying ‘aw cutie’ – only for the situation to descend in to chaos. 

South African authorities urged holidaymakers to stay away from marine wildlife today, after a baby seal attacked bathers in Cape Town.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said lifeguards at Clifton Beach treated two people for bite wounds on Tuesday following an incident involving a ‘seal pup’.

Onlookers rushed to help the boy who was being attacked by the feral baby seal

A man then grabbed the violent seal by its flippers and tossed it back into the water as the woman was carried to safety

‘We are appealing to bathers and paddlers to stay clear of seals and avoid marine animals in their environment,’ the NSRI said in a statement. 

The NSRI said there have been reports of similar incidents at other beaches in the region in recent months.

Authorities and marine scientists were investigating, it added, urging people encountering an ‘aggressive seal’ to call the police or animal services and seek immediate medical attention if bitten.

South Africa’s sandy beaches attract large crowds during the holiday season in Southern Hemisphere summer.

‘Residents and visitors are encouraged to treat all marine and coastal wildlife with respect and to remove their pets from areas where wildlife may be present,’ Cape Town deputy mayor Eddie Andrews said in a statement.

A big cat trainer was recently savaged by a tiger during a performance at a family circus show in Italy, as the animal hauled him to the floor and bit his neck.  

A tourist was also chased down and attacked by a wild kangaroo after she tried to pat the animal on her holiday in Australia.