Normally when they get this close, I hand the camera to my wife and tell her to keep shooting no matter what, while I go for help. But sometimes I misjudge the situation.
In spite of the comments posted already, I would advise you to not hang around such a thing to determine what it is: the risk is too great. There days, one just doesn't know what all is "out there." It could have been emitting inverse gamma rays, the ugliest kind.
