A sunbather in northern Germany appeared to have a close escape after a small plane almost landed on top of him.

Video footage obtained by German tabloid Bild shows the plane landing on a beach in the tourist island of Heglioland.

The pilot, 52-year-old Juergan Drucker, said he misjudged his approach, but had not seen the man as he was lying down.

Speaking to Bild, he said he was fearful the disastrous landing could lose him his license.