According to media reports, a tourist in Egypt has given birth in the waters of the Red Sea along the coast of Dahab. Photos of the woman, her husband, and an older man - reported to be a doctor - have been circulating on social media.
The couple and the elderly doctor who assisted with the birth, are reportedly Russian. The woman's husband and the doctor are also seen holding the baby with the umbilical cord and placenta still attached after the successful delivery.
The original photos were shared by fellow tourist Hadia Hosny El Said on March 10. They were shot from a resort balcony overlooking the beach, the UK's Metro reported.
El Said posted the images on social media, where they quickly began trending. According to El Said, the doctor assisting the couple is a specialist in "water births."
Images of the birth have been circulating on social media
The baby's gender has not yet been reported.
Social media users were impressed by the unique delivery.
"Amazing, so pure ... delivering that way looks peanuts. Beautiful pictures!" one user wrote on Facebook.
Others praised the "easiness" and "beauty" of the birth, according to Arab News. Another onlooker reportedly commented: "The sea was really red that day."
At the time of writing, the original Facebook post has been shared more than 2,700 times and has over 3,300 reactions.
Water births are a safe and increasingly common way to deliver babies, according to Mumsnet.
"The comforting sensation of warm water can help you relax during labor and even reduce labor pains and the need for pain relief," the website, which is written by parents for parents, explains.
"The water helps you to relax and produce endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which keeps you calm and reduces the pain of contractions."
However, the site also says that water births are commonly done in controlled birthing pools. Delivering a baby in the open sea is less conventional.