Chilling moment 12ft shark lurks feet off UK coast as kids play on shore in warm weather
Shocking footage captured the moment the 12-foot 'mini-Jaws' swam just feet away from the shore at Aberystwyth's North Beach on Friday evening - with stunned crowds gathering to watch as its fin emerged from the water
Beachgoers basking in the UK's sizzling temperatures last week were left stunned after spotting a shark dangerously close to two different shorelines.
Shocking video footage captured the moment the 12-foot "mini-Jaws" swam just feet away from the shore at Aberystwyth's North Beach in Wales on Friday evening, with crowds gathering to watch as its fin emerged from the water. The mammal, thought to be a Porbeagle shark, was reported to wildlife rescue teams and the coastguard over fears it was ill or injured. As it swam dangerously close to the beache's jetty, the animal was also feared to be at risk of beaching itself. As a result, the public were warned to stay away for their own safety and to prevent additional stress for the animal.
Craig Roberts, who was in the area visiting his son at Aberystwyth University, saw the shark and said kids were jumping into the water moments before it emerged. He said: "We were on the pier and saw a bit of a commotion so went to have a look. Kids were jumping in the water just before it was spotted - they soon got out though."
The second shark sighting came on Sunday, also in Wales - in Aberdyfi, Gwynedd. It is understood to be the same shark. Witnesses Simon Howes and Owen Davies managed to capture the creature on video. Davies said: "That's a first for me in Aberdyfi - a shark up by the Penhelig Arms Hotel."
HM Coastguard Aberystwyth said they were contacted by the Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to assist the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) charity. The coastguard said: "The coastguard rescue team were tasked to provide safety cover for BDMLR and also to provide a bit of crowd control to ensure no members of the public put themselves in harms way, or inadvertently caused the shark further distress.
"After low tide and no further sightings, 'mini jaws' had seemingly made it out of the bay and so the CRT were stood down."
While the Porbeagle shark is native to the UK, it is usually found in deeper water, where it hunts a range of smaller fish, including mackerel, herring, octopus, and squid. The strong swimmers, belonging to the same family as the Great White and Mako sharks, are known for being able to travel huge distances.
Porbeagle sharks are known for their torpedo-shaped bodies, black eyes, and short conical snout, as well as a distinctive white patch at the base of their dorsal fin. The species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 - meaning it is an offence to intentionally kill or catch them in UK waters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Chilling moment 5ft shark's dorsal fin is spotted just 30 feet from one of Britain's most popular beaches
This is the moment a 5-foot-long shark was seen just 30ft from one of Britain's most popular beaches. The porbeagle shark, a relative of the great white was observed for 25 minutes feeding in the relatively shallow water off Southbourne beach in Bournemouth. Usually, Porbeagles are seen miles out at sea by fishermen and have little interaction with humans. It is highly unusual for one to come so close in and it is likely it was following a rich food source. They normally feed on squid and other cephalopods and one theory is that it could have been lured by the recent mass influx of Mediterranean octopus of the south west coast. The porbeagle was filmed from the shore by Jonathan Brennan, who is a qualified PADI scuba diver and who has swam with sharks all over the world. He confidently identified it as a porbeagle after ruling out it being a tope or a basking shark, both commonly seen in south coast waters. Despite it being seen so close to a popular bathing beach at the start of the summer season, Mr Brennan said its presence was good news. The 55-year-old said: 'It was lovely to see such a beautiful creature so close in. It is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. 'I thought it was a seal at first and waded into the water to get a closer look. It was probably about 10 yards out, 'It wasn't a tope shark, they tend to dive deeper and are much faster. This kept popping up every couple of minutes whereas a tope wouldn't keep coming to the surface. 'It wasn't a basking shark either as their fins are floppier and wobble from side to side when moving through the water. 'I have seen a couple of thresher sharks before and it wasn't one of those. 'It has a rounded fin which was dark greyish brown colouration with a rounded apex and there appeared to be a lower edge white patch.' Mr Brennan described the moment the shark's fin in the video saying it 'wasn't in a hurry' and 'it must have been having a good feed'. 'Porbeagles can be attracted by a school of mackerel or squid,' he said. It is highly unusual for a porbeagle shark to come so close in and it is likely it was following a rich food source 'It was wonderful to see it so close to the shore. 'Yes, porbeagles are a white shark genus but they are very, very different and people don't have anything to worry about. 'They are harmless if they are left alone. 'People should observe them from a distance and not interfere with what they are doing. They are more interested in the fish.' Along with blue sharks, porbeagles are the most common species of shark found in British waters. Despite their association with the great white - Carcharodon carcharias in Latin - they are not considered to be a threat to humans with only three recorded non-fatal attacks before. The porbeagle shark - Lamna nasus in Latin - is classed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable in the north east Atlantic. What is a porbeagle shark and is it dangerous? Porbeagle sharks come from the family of Lamnidae sharks and can be found in the the North Atlantic Ocean. They can grow up to 12ft long and weigh up to 600lbs (43-stone) The shark has been spotted all around the UK in deep waters, usually several miles offshore in the summer time where it hunts mackerel herring and squid. There have been sightings of the shark off Scotland, Devon and South Shields in recent years. The porbeagle is also found around the coasts of North Africa, in the Mediterranean and around Australia and New Zealand. The gigantic shark can reach more than eight-foot in length and can weigh up to 22 stone. Despite being related to the great white shark the porbeagle is not known to be dangerous. Aggressive fishing rates and slow population has resulted in the shark numbers dramatically dwindling. There are three recorded shark attacks involving porbeagles, two involving boats and another which did not result in serious injury.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners risk six months jail and 'huge fine' for cutting hedge in June
Many people will have been out in the garden over the weekend, but there's a little known law that could see you hit with a hefty fine or even a prison sentence if you're not careful Garden owners are being warned not to trim their hedges in June, as it could result in an 'unlimited fine' and potentially six months behind bars. A lesser-known law regarding hedges and hedgerows in the UK is in effect from March until August. Despite many likely unintentionally breaking this law over the sunny weekend by getting out their hedge trimmers and secateurs, gardeners could still face penalties due to this obscure environmental regulation. Farm hedgerows are legally protected from being cut between April 1 and August 31, a measure put in place to safeguard nesting birds. While it's technically permissible to trim certain types of domestic garden hedges during this period, if it results in damage or destruction to a bird's nest - whether intentional or not - you're still infringing upon the law, reports the Express. Wood Street Care Leicester warns: "It's illegal to cut your hedges during bird nesting season, which runs from March to August. "Trimming your hedge during bird nesting season can harm or destroy nests, which is detrimental to the birds. It's also illegal to trim hedges on your property if they're taller than 20 metres without permission from the local council." Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it's a crime to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is under construction or in use. This is further supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The law is clear: "Wilfully damaging a bird's nest in use or under construction, which also extends to trimming hedges, is a legal offence. The moment it becomes active, it is illegal to destroy it". Violating this ruling could result in an unlimited fine or up to six months behind bars. The RSPB emphasises: "The consequences for the above, even in the event of harm to a single bird, nest or egg, is an unlimited fine, up to six months in jail or both. Suffice to say, it is certainly not a risk worth taking."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners warned about destructive plant 'as bad as knotweed'
Gardening experts have raised concerns about this seemingly innocent-looking plant which can cause "significant damage" to buildings Buddleia might add a dash of colour to UK gardens, but these purple plants have already caused significant distress about their potential to cause considerable damage to properties. Experts fear that the plant, which is also known as the "butterfly bush", can be problematic for homeowners and some have already equated its level of threat to another notorious horticultural hazard, Japanese knotweed. Environmental Controls, a company specialising in removing invasive weeds, has warned homeowners regarding the often underestimated dangers of buddleia. Beloved for its attractive blooms, the plant is notorious for tearing through buildings, exploiting any weakness, such as cracks and fragile mortar, similar to the feared knotweed. Speaking on the matter, company spokesman Jennifer Holmes said: "Both buddleia and knotweed can cause significant damage to building structures, however buddleia is less likely to damage underground infrastructure due to its shallow root system. "Both are highly invasive and difficult to eradicate, but buddleia (unlike knotweed) can grow in hard to access areas such as roofs, guttering, window sills and walls – basically anywhere that a seed lands it can grow. Knotweed, on the other hand, requires its roots to be on the ground in order to form plants, and quickly spreads." Jennifer pointed out that buddleia's rapid growth, reaching heights up to 15 feet – dwarfing Japanese knotweed – should be of significant concern for those owning property. Despite these warnings, buddleia remains unlisted on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, thus UK residents are still at liberty to plant it in their gardens, reports Devon Live. Experts are warning homeowners to be vigilant for the aggressive plant, particularly if it's not a controlled garden plant. Keep an eye out for it sprouting from neglected corners of roofs and walls where it flourishes unnoticed, and tackle eradication before it takes root. Japanese knotweed is subject to stringent legal controls due to its invasive nature and potential to cause property damage. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to plant or cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild. Property owners are legally obliged to prevent the spread of Japanese knotweed from their land to neighbouring properties. Japanese knotweed is classified as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Its disposal must adhere to specific regulations to prevent environmental contamination. The presence of Japanese knotweed can impact property sales and mortgage approvals. Sellers are required to disclose its presence, and failure to do so can lead to legal repercussions. Effective management often requires professional treatment over several years. DIY removal is discouraged due to the plant's resilience and the risk of spreading.
