Latest news with #OwenDavies
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Moment 'mini Jaws' is spotted lurking off British coast with children playing just metres away
A massive 7ft shark was spotted just metres off the British coast, leaving locals stunned. Dubbed a 'mini Jaws', the terrifying creature is thought to be a 2m porbeagle and was spotted off Aberdovey (also known as Aberdyfi) in Wales on Sunday afternoon. Owen Davies managed to capture the remarkable moment the endangered shark - which can be a danger to humans - was seen swimming in circles with the dorsal fin breaching the water surface. Mr Davies, 67, said he was on his way home after a few days in the area and noticed a crowd of people with their phone cameras out as a toddler played on the shoreline. He said: 'The previous day I'd noticed a lot of huge barrelled jelly fish around there but they don't normally catch peoples attention. 'I slowed down as I passed and then I saw a dorsal fin, so I pulled over to have a better look. 'I'm 67 years of age, born and bread in Aberdovey and have never seen a shark in the river, as kids we used to see the odd porpoise swimming up the estuary but never a shark.' The shark - which can grow up to 12 feet long and weigh as much as 600 pounds - was spotted 'four foot' off the old lifeboat slipway in Penhelig, Aberdovey. He said: 'I was really surprised, I've never seen a shark in the estuary before.' Another local, Simon Howes, said: 'Wow shark in Aberdyfi.' The porbeagle shark is a species of mackerel shark that inhabits cold and temperate waters of the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere. The impressive beast is also member of the Lamnidae family and is one of the closest living relatives of Great whites. But the shark was believed to be injured or ill and had to be rescued by divers. The coastguard set up a boundary around the shark that looked in distress so people wouldn't approach it as divers helped the endangered animal. The shark is believed to have survived and swum back out of the estuary with the rising tide. A coastguard spokesperson said: 'HM Coastguard Aberystwyth were tasked at the request of MRCC Milford Haven. 'To assist the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, BDMLR with a two-metre long juvenile Porbeagle shark swimming in the area. 'Between the pier and the bandstand that was thought to be ill or injured and in danger of beaching itself. 'The CRT 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 harm's 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.' Porbeagle sharks are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN globally. In the UK, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is illegal to intentionally catch or kill them in British waters. Although porbeagles are physically capable of attacking humans, very few attacks have been attributed to the species.
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
'Mini jaws' off North Wales coast as public urged to keep distance
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A two metre long shark - nicknamed 'mini-Jaws' - has been spotted next to the shoreline at two beaches in Wales in recent days. The first incident was on Friday evening at Aberystwyth's North Beach. Onlookers spotted the shark close to the wooden jetty on the beach. It was reported to sealife charities and also the coastguard over concerns it was at risk of beaching itself. The public were urged to stay away from the Porbeagle shark over concerns they could get injured and also cause additional stress for the animal. The second spotting was in Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, on Sunday - where Simon Howes and Owen Davies were among those who captured pictures and a video of what is understood to be the same shark. Simon Howes said: "Wow, sharks in Aberdyfi." (Image: Simon Howes) Owen Davies said: "That's a first for me in Aberdyfi - a SHARK up by the Penhelig Arms hotel." One person said: "Probably the same one that was in Aberystwyth." Another added: "Wow! He was in Aber Friday evening, nearly beached himself." (Image: Owen Davies) On the Aberystwyth incident the coastguard said: "HM Coastguard Aberystwyth were tasked at the request of MRCC Milford Haven to assist the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) with a 2m long juvenile Porbeagle shark swimming in the area between the pier and the bandstand that was thought to be ill/injured and in danger of beaching itself. "The CRT 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." Porbeagle sharks: The porbeagle shark belongs to the same family as the great white and Mako sharks. These are fast-swimming, powerful hunters, perfectly adapted to life in the open ocean. They can reach lengths of up to 12 feet (3.65 meters) and weigh over 500 pounds (230 kilograms). Porbeagles are instantly recognizable by their streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies, large black eyes, and a short, conical snout. Their dorsal side is a sleek bluish-grey, contrasting with a snowy white belly—classic countershading that helps them ambush prey. One tell-tale feature for identification is a distinctive white patch at the base of their dorsal fin, a marker that sets them apart from similar species. Porbeagle sharks are currently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN globally. In the UK, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal to intentionally catch or kill them in British waters. Historically targeted for their meat, fins, and sport (particularly during the 1950s–70s), porbeagles were once a common trophy in offshore game fishing. Today, those practices have largely ceased, but their populations have yet to fully recover. Although porbeagles are physically capable of attacking humans, very few attacks have been attributed to the species. According to the International Shark Attack File, there have only been three incidents involving a porbeagle bite - one provoked and two on boats when fishers were boarding the shark. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
North Wales Live
06-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
'Mini jaws' off North Wales coast as public urged to keep distance
A two metre long shark - nicknamed 'mini-Jaws' - has been spotted next to the shoreline at two beaches in Wales in recent days. The first incident was on Friday evening at Aberystwyth's North Beach. Onlookers spotted the shark close to the wooden jetty on the beach. It was reported to sealife charities and also the coastguard over concerns it was at risk of beaching itself. The public were urged to stay away from the Porbeagle shark over concerns they could get injured and also cause additional stress for the animal. The second spotting was in Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, on Sunday - where Simon Howes and Owen Davies were among those who captured pictures and a video of what is understood to be the same shark. Simon Howes said: "Wow, sharks in Aberdyfi." Owen Davies said: "That's a first for me in Aberdyfi - a SHARK up by the Penhelig Arms hotel." One person said: "Probably the same one that was in Aberystwyth." Another added: "Wow! He was in Aber Friday evening, nearly beached himself." On the Aberystwyth incident the coastguard said: "HM Coastguard Aberystwyth were tasked at the request of MRCC Milford Haven to assist the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) with a 2m long juvenile Porbeagle shark swimming in the area between the pier and the bandstand that was thought to be ill/injured and in danger of beaching itself. "The CRT 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." Porbeagle sharks: The porbeagle shark belongs to the same family as the great white and Mako sharks. These are fast-swimming, powerful hunters, perfectly adapted to life in the open ocean. They can reach lengths of up to 12 feet (3.65 meters) and weigh over 500 pounds (230 kilograms). Porbeagles are instantly recognizable by their streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies, large black eyes, and a short, conical snout. Their dorsal side is a sleek bluish-grey, contrasting with a snowy white belly—classic countershading that helps them ambush prey. One tell-tale feature for identification is a distinctive white patch at the base of their dorsal fin, a marker that sets them apart from similar species. Porbeagle sharks are currently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN globally. In the UK, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal to intentionally catch or kill them in British waters. Historically targeted for their meat, fins, and sport (particularly during the 1950s–70s), porbeagles were once a common trophy in offshore game fishing. Today, those practices have largely ceased, but their populations have yet to fully recover. Although porbeagles are physically capable of attacking humans, very few attacks have been attributed to the species. According to the International Shark Attack File, there have only been three incidents involving a porbeagle bite - one provoked and two on boats when fishers were boarding the shark.
The Guardian
23-02-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Schmeichel review – amazing saves but too few insights into the great Dane
In Denmark it's actually pronounced 'Schmy-shell' — but that's the extent of the stunning revelations provided by Owen Davies's worshipful and rote sports doc about the former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, now 61. Footage of all his amazing saves – the ones that won Euro 92 for the Danish national side, or led Man U to the treble in '99 – impressively affirm the Great Dane's greatness. The question though is how? And why? At 6ft 4in tall, his imposing physicality obviously had something to do with it ('The span was like an aeroplane!' marvels Sir Alex Ferguson). Schmeichel's competitive edge and total inability to abide weakness are attributed to the parenting of a tough, Polish-born father who was orphaned at a young age by the second world war; their story of estrangement and reconciliation is worthy of soap opera. But it's the insights that the Schmeichels, senior and junior, offer into the tao of the goalie – that 'position of ultimate responsibility' – which are most interesting, especially when delivered in that delightful Manc-Danish accent. In UK and Irish cinemas
