A 77-year-old grandmother had to be rescued after the throne-shaped iceberg she was posing on for a photo drifted out to sea during her holiday in Iceland.

Judith Streng, from Texas, was visiting the Jökulsárlón Lagoon with her son when they came across the chunk of frozen water shaped like a throne on the beach.

Moments after Ms Streng climbed on top of the iceberg to pose for a photo, the makeshift seat was carried away from the shore by a large wave.

“When I got on it, it started to totter and a wave was coming in,” Ms Streng told ABC News. “A very large wave came in and kind of made the throne kind of rock, and I could tell that I was slipping off.”

On Monday, Ms Streng's granddaughter, Christine, posted the texts and photos her father sent after the ordeal on 26 February. Each photo shows Ms Streng drifting further and further away from the camera.

'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York Show all 15 1 /15 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York A house in upstate New York has been completely encased in ice. AP 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York Standing on Ramona Beach on the south side of Lake Ontario, the property was hit by an ‘ice tsunami’, a phenomenon that occurs when strong winds blow blocks of ice from the water onto the shore. Maureen Morgan Whelan 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York The settled ice is around 4 feet thick and had to pass over a storm barrier to reach the house. Maureen Morgan Whelan 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York The house pictured when not covered in ice. Maureen Morgan Whelan 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York A satellite view shows the proximity of the house to Lake Ontario Google 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York The nearby town of Hamburg, NY was also hit by ice shoves. Town of Hamburg Emergency Services 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York Residents were issued a voluntary evacuation warning when conditions became dangerous Town of Hamburg Emergency Services 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York By the shore in Hamburg, NY Town of Hamburg Emergency Services 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York By the shore in Hamburg, NY Town of Hamburg Emergency Services 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York Fort Erie in Ontario was also affected by the adverse weather. Lake Erie neighbours Lake Ontario and the areas surrounding both have been victim to huge ice shoves AP 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York On the shore of Mather Park in Fort Erie, Ontario, February 25 AP 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York Niagara Falls, on the river between lakes Ontario and Erie recently partially froze over AFP/Getty 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York Horseshoe Falls in Niagara falls while partially frozen on January 31 AP 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York American Falls in Niagara Falls seen from Ontario, Canada while partially frozen on January 31 AP 'Ice Tsunami' encases house in New York American Falls in Niagara Falls seen from Ontario, Canada while partially frozen on January 31 AP

“Lost her kingdom when she drifted out to see! [sic]” Christine's father texted her. He added: “No joke. A coast guard rescuer had to save her and bring her back to shore!”

Photos of the grandmother's nautical adventure had garnered 66,000 retweets by Friday evening.

She told ABC News that her rescuer was Randy Lacount, a boat captain from Florida who witnessed her float away. He did not immediately return a request for comment on Monday evening.

“I thought it was safe,” Ms Streng told ABC. “One girl had been on it and then two girls at the same time, and it was very secure with them. But I don't weigh very much. So it was a little easier to float off with me, I guess.”

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On her choice to sit on the throne, she told the network: “You know, I always wanted to be a queen. I mean, come on, that was my chance.”

Ms Streng returned to the US on Monday and is recuperating from her trip, her granddaughter told the Washington Post. While she was not available for interview, Ms Streng relayed to her granddaughter that she's “glad people are getting a kick out of her story”.

“Being so popular is wild,” she added.