Terrifying moment a huge sea snake is spotted on a Queensland beach in front of locals before one beachgoer throws it back into the surf

Beachgoers witnessed the terrifying moment a massive sea snake washed up on the shore of a Queensland beach. 

A picture shared to the Australian Native Animals Facebook page on Sunday, shows the sea snake emerging from the surf at Wild Cattle Beach in Tannum Sands, before a local reportedly picked up the snake by its tail and flung it back into the ocean. 

Members of the Facebook page speculated the species was the highly venomous 'Elegant Sea Snake' which can grow up to two metres long and are commonly found off the coast of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.  

A massive snake became stranded at Wild Cattle Beach in Tannum Sands, Queensland before it was thrown back into the surf by a beachgoer

The photo sparked mixed reactions online, with some users commenting the snake should not have been thrown back into the water. 

'Not a good idea to just throw them back' commented one user. 

'Putting it back was a bad idea, they only come to shore if they are sick or injured' another user posted. 

A post by Gympie Snake Catcher warns members of the public to maintain a safe distance from the highly venomous reptilian and to not touch or return beached sea snakes to the water as they are likely to wash back to shore.

Beachgoers are urged to call their local wildlife rescue, a local snake catcher or 1300ANIMAL to report stranded sea snake sightings. 

Members of the public are warned to steer clear of stranded sea snakes which usually wash to shore if they are sick or injured