Swimmers are warned to steer clear of ‘disorientated’ shark filmed lurking along Cornish shoreline
A ‘disorientated’ shark has been spotted swimming in the shallow waters off Cornwall, sparking fears of an attack – just weeks after a diver was bitten unprovoked during a nearby snorkeling excursion.
Experts have warned would-be swimmers at Trelissick, near Falmouth, to steer clear of the animal – believed to be a blue shark – after it was filmed lurking incredibly close to the shore by a dogwalker on Wednesday.
It is the same species which is believed to have bitten the leg of an experienced snorkeler on July 28, some 15 miles off the coast of Penzance, in what was the first attack of its kind in 175 years.
Dan Jarvis, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, told the BBC that the behaviour of the shark on Wednesday was a ‘real worry’ because they ‘don’t normally come up so close to beaches like this.’
He said he fears the animal is ‘injured or unwell’ and ‘might need some medical attention’.
He added: ‘Our advice is to ignore it and give it a wide berth.
‘It could be disorientated and it’s best for our team to monitor it, to give it the space and time to do what it wants.
Experts have warned would-be swimmers at Trelissick, near Falmouth, to steer clear of the animal – believed to be a blue shark – after it was filmed incredibly close to the shore (pictured) by a dogwalker on Wednesday
Dan Jarvis, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, told the BBC that the behaviour of the shark on Wednesday (pictured) was a ‘real worry’ because they ‘don’t normally come up so close to beaches like this’
Biologist Christy Tudd also shared a video of the animal from a rowing boat (pictured), tweeting at 5pm that she had been ‘on the scene’ since around 9.30am, adding: ‘This behaviour is so strange!’
‘It could have just come for a look and will swim off when it’s happy to, but if it’s unwell we don’t want to cause it any more stress by people getting into the water and interfering with it.’
The shark was filmed by Harry Gobby, who said that at one moment it appeared to be trying to beach itself.
‘It’s snout came out of the water and onto the beach,’ he said.
‘It almost nuzzled underneath its neck on the beach.’
The creature was also filmed by others, with one clip showing it coming right to the shore while writhing its body, before momentarily heading back out to sea.
Biologist Christy Tudd also shared a video of the animal from a rowing boat, tweeting at 5pm that she had been ‘on the scene’ since around 9.30am.
In a follow up video showing the animal swimming along a pebbled shoreline, she claimed it looked ‘fairly healthy’, adding: ‘So this behaviour is very strange!’
It comes just weeks after a snorkeller was left ‘screaming for help’ after being bitten by a shark off Cornwall in the first attack of its kind in 175 years – in what the victim branded a ‘very scary incident’ at sea.
The woman – who was not identified – had been in Penzance with Blue Shark Snorkel Trips when the accident happened on July 28 .
According to the Sun, the woman may have required minor plastic surgery following the vicious bite, while witnesses told the paper she let out ‘piercing screams’, adding that there was ‘blood everywhere.’
The unlucky adventurer had been swimming some 15 miles out to sea during the £180 per person excursion when the shark, unprovoked, suddenly bit her leg.
The swimmer was rushed back into the chartered boat where she was given immediate first aid and taken ashore for further treatment.
A female swimmer was on a snorkelling trip to see blue sharks in Penzance harbour on July 28 when she was bitten on the leg Pictured: Blue shark stock image
A woman was in Penzance, Cornwall, with Blue Shark Snorkel Trips when she was bitten by what was believed to be a blue shark on July 28. She was swimming some 15 miles out to sea (route and diving spot pictured) during the £180 per person excursion when the shark, unprovoked, suddenly bit her leg
It is the first shark attack of its kind on a person in British waters since 1847. Several fishermen have been bitten in recent years but only after bringing the sea creatures on board their vessels.
The tour group said it would be investigating how the attack could have happened.
In a statement put out by the trip company, the bite victim said: ‘What was a very scary incident was made so much easier by the kindness and calmness of the people around me.
‘Thank you to the trip team for getting me back to shore quickly and carefully and making me feel as safe as I possibly could.
‘We all take these risks when we enter the habitat of a predator and we can never completely predict the reactions of a wild animal.’
The woman was rescued by the coastguard and left in the care of paramedics. HM Coastguard confirmed that it is believed the injury was caused by a suspected shark bite.
The victim added that ‘despite how the trip ended’, it was ‘amazing to see such majestic creatures in the wild’.
She said: ‘I don’t for a second want this freak event to tarnish the reputation of an already persecuted species.’
