Baby seal joins surfers for a ride

Video: Last weekend, a baby seal decided to get a lift with a pair of surfers

Matthew Stanley and Andrew Flounders were enjoy the waves off the coast of Northumberland when a young seal decided to join in on the fun. (ITN)

You're used to hearing about shark attacks when it comes to surfers.

Yet at the weekend, it was a baby seal that decided to give a pair of surfers some attention.

Matthew Stanley and Andrew Flounders were enjoying the waves off the coast of Northumberland when a young seal decided to join in on the fun.

Of course, like any novice the seal struggles at first to get onto the board; slipping and sliding for a few failed attempts.

The young mammal can not decide whether to lie on the board horizontally or vertically, with one of the surfers eventually having to give the creature a helping hand.

It seems the seal likes to simply use the surfboard as a refreshing place of rest in between its exploits under the water.

The whole event was filmed on Stanley's GoPro camera.

Talking to the BBC, Stanley said, "We had been in for about 45 minutes when the seal came along. I've seen them there before but they are usually far away."

Commenting on the seal's rather performance on the board, Stanley added, "It kept sliding off, but every time you caught a wave it would surf in on the white water.

"I admit we lost interest in the surfing for a bit.

"I've never seen a seal that close up, never mind one sitting on board."