A lifeguard is understood to have tried to get a closer look at the animal, which was believed have been be up to 12 ft long – the species was not yet confirmed
A lifeguard on a popular beach reportedly punched a shark after the beach was closed after spotting the animal.
St Ouen’s Bay on the north-western tip of Jersey was closed on the morning of Saturday, August 1 after reports of a possible shark sighting.
One lifeguard is understood to have tried to get a closer look at the animal. The shark is believed have been be up to 12 ft long, but the species was not confirmed.
Tom Rolls, a RNLI lifeguard, said his co-worker Nick paddled over the animal on a rescue board at about 10.40am shortly before the beach was shut.
Mr Rolls told the Bailiwick Express: “He even said he kind of punched it as he was paddling, so it must have been really close to the surface.
“It was darkish grey, about 10 to 12 feet long, and then it swam away really quickly from under his board.”
The beach was red flagged – effectively closing it to the members of the public – since the species could not be identified.
Wildlife campaigner Richard Peirce, who has published books on sharks in British waters, said he doubts the sighting involved a species like a Great White.
“I haven’t seen a good picture of a dorsal fin that might have enabled me to have a stab at the species,” he told Metro.
“It has to be a good picture because if you get a good enough side on a dorsal fin, it’s a bit like a human fingerprint.
He was unsure of what species it could have been but said a basking shark came to mind since it had a large dorsal fin and was close.
Around 30 species of sharks are found in the water surrounding the British Isles.
These species include the blue shark, mako, thresher and poor beagle dubbed a miniature Great White, and the basking shark, the second-largest living shark, Mr Peirce said.
Tom ‘The Blowfish’ Hird, a shark scientist, said that Great Whites are constantly on the move following food sources and it would be easy for one to swim around the UK within days.
He said that just because the species has not been spotted for sure in British waters “doesn’t mean they’re not here already.”