This is the moment a deer family was spotted struggling to swim in a raging sea in the middle of the night.

The animals were spotted at nighttime in the waters of the coastal district of Dafeng in Jiangsu Province, China, on October 5. The footage shows the group of around a dozen deer sticking close to each other as they circle around in the troubled water.

A witness reportedly said that the deer finally managed to reach the shore on their own. Deer are said to be good swimmers and well-equipped to handle such situations - capable of covering long distances when there are no waves against them.

While some species may not typically venture into the water, their survival often depends on access to wetland habitats where they need to be able to swim.