Massive 12ft shark forces emergency seashore closure as panic hits English Channel
A massive 12ft shark forced a historic emergency beach closure after swimming within yards of terrified lifesavers in the English Channel
The smalltooth sand tiger shark that washed up on a nearby Jersey beach shortly before the latest sighting(Image: Government of Jersey Marine Reso / SWNS)
Sunseekers were ordered out of the sea in a British holiday hotspot after a 12ft shark was spotted close to the shore. Lifeguards at St Ouen’s Bay in Jersey were forced to hoist red flags across the beach on Saturday after the ocean beast was spotted lurking just 40 metres from horrified swimmers.
The emergency lockdown, which lasted for approximately 45 minutes, kicked off at around 10.40am when the grey fish glided into the popular bay. RNLI lifeguard Tom Rolls said he and his colleagues initially thought the terrifying report was a hoax.
Speaking to the Bailiwick Express, he said: “We got the call through from one of the guards at Watersplash, and he basically said that a shark had been spotted in the line-up.
Surfers riding the waves at St. Ouen’s Bay where a lifeguard had to punch a shark away from his board(Image: Getty Images)
“Initially, we were like, ‘that’s a joke, you’re having us on here.’ But then he was persistent. He said multiple sightings had been seen by members of the public.”
The drama escalated when the shark swam directly beneath another lifeguard, named Nick, who had to fend it off with his bare hands.
Mr Rolls added: “He said it looked definitely more like a shark than anything else. He even said he kind of punched it as he was paddling, so it must have been really close to the surface.
Lifeguards hoisted red flags across the bay, ordering sunseekers out of the water (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
“It was darkish grey, about 10 to 12 feet long, and then it swam away really quickly from under his board.”
Beachgoers were taken aback as lifeguards blew the whistle and ordered everyone back to dry land.
Mr Rolls said: “Everyone was super calm about it. There were lots of surprised looks, obviously – us included – as it’s never happened before. It’s the first time in history that Jersey has closed the beach for a shark sighting.”
Teenage surf instructor Jesse Heddercott, 16, was in the middle of a lesson when the order came to evacuate the ocean. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Jersey before, so it’s pretty crazy,” he told the BBC.
“We thought it was just a tuna, or something, but then another lifeguard spotted it and it was confirmed to be – probably – a shark. They red–flagged the beach and we all had to get out.”
Fortunately, the beast headed south away from the beach, leaving beachgoers unharmed.
The heart-stopping incident comes hot on the heels of another shark encounter in the area, after a 600kg, four-metre shark washed up dead at nearby Grève d’Azette.
Rescuers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue rushed to the scene to save the beast, which was later identified as an endangered smalltooth sand tiger shark.
Speaking on the rare discovery, experts said: “The animal was identified as a smalltooth sand tiger shark. It is an elusive and deep–water species, typically found in warm and tropical oceans globally.
“They are also listed as endangered on the IUCN red list and are considered naturally uncommon, with minimal research into the species to date.
“The first confirmed records in the UK and Irish waters of this species were only published in 2023, when three individual sharks were recorded in the English Channel and Celtic Sea.
“Their sightings may be linked to warmer than average sea temperatures contributing to a northward shift in the species’ range.”
