Three cows swim five miles to safety after being swept out to sea in hurricane

Three cows have miraculously survived being swept out to sea in a 'mini-tsunami' caused by Hurricane Dorian.

The cattle were washed five miles out to sea when the hurricane resulted in flooding on Cedar Island, in North Carolina, in September.

The animals were found on the Outer Banks, a group of islands off the coast of the US state, in between the mainland and the Atlantic.

Cape Lookout National Seashore spokesman B.G. Horvat reportedly said the bovines were lucky to have avoided being dragged out into the Atlantic Ocean.

He added that if the cows could talk they would have a 'gripping story to share'.

The animals were lucky to avoid being dragged into the Atlantic Ocean (Rhonda Hunter Photography)

According to the New York Times , Mr Horvat said: "It’s a tremendous story of how they made it.

"If the cows could talk, imagine the story they can tell you of enduring that rush of water.

"That must be incredible. Ever since they found each other, they have been hanging out together. They are just grazing on the North Core Island."

The 'wall of water' was caused by a change in winds, blowing the overflow from bursting rivers onto the island.

They were washed away by a 'mini-tsunami' (Rhonda Hunter Photography)

The authorities are waiting for the owner of the three cows to step forward and arrange for them to be transported from the North Core Island.

The animals were washed away by an 8ft 'mini-tsunami', which killed at least 28 wild horses on Cedar Island.

Nena Hancock, owner of the horses, said she would be happy to help get the cows back home safe.

A huge herd of livestock graze on a 1,000-acre area of land on Cedar Island.