The Channel Islands' air search crew was called out to an upturned "canoe" which turned out to be an inflatable hammerhead shark.
The crew was alerted by reports of a red and blue canoe drifting in the sea off Jersey on Saturday evening.
Air search and Jersey Fire and Rescue Service's inshore rescue boat were called to help in the search.
The aircraft spotted the blow-up toy and then found a real canoe on the shore nearby.