Fears have been raised after a huge shark fin was spotted just yards off the UK coast.
Beachgoers have now been warned to be extra vigilant and cautious while swimming or surfing in the area.
The ‘unusually large’ fin was spotted yesterday (February 19) at around 11am by a woman in Gunwalloe, near Porthleven. Cornwall.
READ MORE: Shark kills swimmer in attack on crowded beach as witnesses ‘hear his screams’
The unnamed woman snapped an image of the huge fin, which one local says could be seen from 30 meters away.
Adding that it appeared to be too large for “the average basking shark“.
(Image: Jacquie Williams)
Speaking to Cornwall Live, they explained: “The photo was taken at around 11am at Gunwalloe from about 30 meters ‘ish’, I can’t say what type of shark it is but doesn’t look like the average basking shark so thought I would just mention its presence just in case.
“Either way, dangerous or not, it’s unusual to see any type of shark inshore this time of year and with a fin that size.”
Shark sightings in the area aren’t uncommon, last summer a blue shark was seen near Trelissick beach.
At the time, the sighting was described by Dan Jarvis, of the charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue as “worrying”.
(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)
He said that sharks don’t typically come that close to beaches and feared that someone could become injured.
In early August last year, the Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team were dispatched to help a snorkeler who was believed to have sustained a shark bite.
The swimmer had suffered a leg injury and was passed to the care of an ambulance team.
In December of 2022, fears have been raised that a great white shark may have been spotted off the west coast of Scotland.
The suspected sighting of the apex predator comes after footage was gathered by kayakers who were predictably given quite the fright by what they saw.
It is highly unlikely for great white sharks to be spotted in UK waters, but this clip, filmed in 2012 but being analysed again now, could prove to be a major clue that they do venture over this way.
A large fin can be seen in the footage which then dips below the water and off into the deep blue gloom.
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