A young boy on holiday in Mexico got more than sand in his shoes when he felt something "wriggling" in his ear - only to discover a live crab had lodged itself inside.

The dramatic extraction by medical staff has since gone viral, shocking viewers and serving as a bizarre reminder to be careful when lounging on the beach. The boy - Pedro, son of influencer Kitzia Mitre - was enjoying a day at the beach when the discomfort began.

He complained that something was moving in his head, which alarmed his mother, who promptly sought medical help. At a local health centre, a doctor examined Pedro's ear. Pedro held his mother's hand as the medical staff used tweezers to remove a tiny green crab that had crawled in.

The creature, though missing a leg, was still alive and attempted to escape after extraction.

Kitzia Mitre shared video footage of the moment on social media, which rapidly spread, amassing millions of views.

In the video, Pedro is visibly upset, sandy and wet from the beach, as medical technicians work carefully to remove the crab. Later, the influencer said "a new fear [has been] unlocked" by the ordeal.

Pedro cried and clung to his mum throughout the extraction process.

Though the crab extraction appears to have been handled without long-term damage, Pedro's safety and hearing were top priorities.

Mum Kitzia confirmed that the family rushed him to medical care immediately, fearful of infection or damage to his ear drum.

"[If it came down to choosing safety over the creature], I choose his ear," she said.

Doctors say foreign bodies in the ear, especially living ones, pose risks like infection, pain, and sometimes hearing loss if not removed promptly.

Experts warn beachgoers to be cautious of small creatures, shells, and debris entering ears, especially after swimming or wandering in shallow water.

Thankfully, Pedro's hearing was unaffected, and he has since been resting, his mother says.

Horror moment doctor pulls a crab out of boy's ear after he felt 'wriggling'