Three cows swept off an island in North Carolina during Hurricane Dorian that were believed to have drowned have turned up safe and well on another island two months later, after apparently swimming several miles to safety.

The animals came from a larger herd living on Cedar Island, off the east coast of the US, and were swept away during a tidal surge caused by low air pressure and large waves whipped up by record-breaking winds.

It was feared they could never have survived such terrible conditions, until they were spotted five miles northeast at the Cape Lookout National Seashore park, on an island which makes up a chain known as the Outer Banks.

It means the cattle successfully navigated five miles of stormy seas during the hurricane, which was one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic.

Cape Lookout Park spokesman BG Horvat said the cows were lucky not to have been swept out past the island chain and into the ocean, which was the fate of some wild horses who drowned due to the storm.

Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Show all 15 1 /15 Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years epa07992303 A view of a ferry stranded on the docks following bad weather in Venice, northern Italy, 13 November 2019. A wave of bad weather has hit much of Italy on 12 November. Levels of 100-120cm above sea level are fairly common in the lagoon city and Venice is well-equipped to cope with its rafts of pontoon walkways. EPA/ANDREA MEROLA ANDREA MEROLA EPA Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man stands in the flooded St Mark's Square ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years The flooded crypt of St Mark's Basilica is pictured during an exceptionally high water levels in Venice, Italy November 13, 2019. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri MANUEL SILVESTRI Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A stranded ferry boat is seen in the background as people gather to watch and clean up after a high tide, in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. The high-water mark hit 187 centimeters (74 inches) late Tuesday, meaning more than 85% of the city was flooded. The highest level ever recorded was 198 centimeters (78 inches) during infamous flooding in 1966. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) Andrea Merola AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A room in the flooded Gritti Palace AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People and tourists carry their luggage through a flooded street after an exceptional overnight "Alta Acqua" high tide water level, early on November 13, 2019 in Venice. - Powerful rainstorms hit Italy on November 12, with the worst affected areas in the south and Venice, where there was widespread flooding. Within a cyclone that threatens the country, exceptional high water were rising in Venice, with the sirocco winds blowing northwards from the Adriatic sea against the lagoons outlets and preventing the water from flowing back into the sea. At 22:40pm the tide reached 183 cm, the second measure in history after the 198 cm of the 1966 flood. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) MARCO BERTORELLO AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man takes photos from the flooded St. Mark's Square after an exceptional overnight "Alta Acqua" high tide water level, early on November 13, 2019 in Venice. - Powerful rainstorms hit Italy on November 12, with the worst affected areas in the south and Venice, where there was widespread flooding. Within a cyclone that threatens the country, exceptional high water were rising in Venice, with the sirocco winds blowing northwards from the Adriatic sea against the lagoons outlets and preventing the water from flowing back into the sea. At 22:40pm the tide reached 183 cm, the second measure in history after the 198 cm of the 1966 flood. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) MARCO BERTORELLO AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A flooded shop during a night of exceptional high water Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People walk across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People use a makeshift footbridge to exit a flooded hotel AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A stranded ferry boat is seen by the docks in Venice ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man walks across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica and the Bell Tower AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A shop owner clears his flooded premises AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years The flooded Riva degli Schiavoni embankment with the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica in background AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A water taxi transported by the water into a street Reuters

“I’ll say it’s about four miles across Core Sound,” Mr Horvat told McClatchy news service.

“Remember, the cows and all the horses were swept away with the water surging back. Who knows exactly, but the cows certainly have a gripping story to share.”