Authorities are issuing an important reminder about staying safe at the beach after an umbrella nearly impaled a 2-year-old at a South Carolina beach.

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A woman was filming her son playing at Myrtle Beach when a sudden gust of wind brought the sharp tip of an umbrella within inches of him, WSOC-TV reported.

The woman said all she could do was watch in horror.

"You should always consider what or who is downwind of you -- highway, parking lot, other people. Always take that into consideration before setting up umbrellas," Ocean Life Guard Capt. Julio Rodriguez said.

Officials said the little boy was not injured, but near misses are not uncommon.