A huge black bear, stunned by a tranquilizer dart, ran into the sea near Alligator Point, Florida.

Wildlife officer Adam Warwick, realizing the bear was in danger, stripped to his underwear, dove into the sea and swam out to the animal, putting his arm around its neck to keep its head above water in classic swimmer-rescue fashion.

The fearsome, but drowsy, bear allowed itself to be rescued and Warwick escaped with a few scratches.

The animal had wandered into a residential area looking for food before being shot with the tranquillizer by a wildlife marksman.

After being rescued, the bear was taken to a forest near Lake City, Florida, and released, apparently unharmed by the experience.