A train passenger called the police on Tuesday to report a body wearing red trousers and a blue jacket that he had seen out of the window near the tracks.

Police immediately rushed patrol cars and a helicopter to the scene and identified the limp figure by the train tracks as a partially-deflated Papa Smurf – or Papa Schlumpf, as he is known in German – within seven minutes.

They found that the beloved children's character was suffering from nothing worse than a slight lack of helium and brought him back to the police station – safely secured against any mishap en route.

But once back at the station, they were unable to contact any of the victim's blue-skinned relatives.

“The emergency call from the witness was completely justified,” police said in a statement.

“Under different conditions, it could have saved lives.”

They said that everyone should report dangerous situations using the phone numbers 02131-3000 or in an emergency 110.