Plane Narrowly Misses Hitting Sunbather

Things you expect at a beach: the sun shining gently on your back; the lap of the waves on the shore; maybe the odd seagull flying gracefully above you. Things you don't expect: a plane coming within inches of hitting you as it crash lands.

But that's what happened to one holidaymaker as he relaxed on a beach in Heligoland, an island off the north coast of Germany.

This incredible video shows a Piper PA-28-181 Archer II plane coming in to land and missing the unnamed man by literally inches.

The apologetic pilot, Juergen Frucker, 52, said afterwards, "It was me that was flying and I am really sorry. I have to say, as the pictures show, that it wasn’t one of my greatest achievements in the cockpit."

He continued, "In my defence I can say that I didn’t see him because he was lying down and I’m just very grateful it worked out well and I didn’t land on him. I don’t want to say any more than that. I fear I will be in for a fine from the Federal Aviation Office but I hope I will be able to keep my licence."

Amazingly, the plane was relatively unscathed, suffering only minor damage and Frucker was able to fly home later that day. Likewise, the sunbather received a haircut but luckily nothing worse.

[via Metro]