Fears for beachgoers as huge ‘shark fin’ spotted off UK coast
FEARS are growing for beachgoers after what looked like a huge “shark fin” was seen off the UK coast.
The fin, possibly from a shark, was spotted at around 11am on Sunday off the south Cornish coast by a woman in Gunwalloe, near Porthleven.
The woman was able to get a snap of the fin near to the beach, which has led to swimmers and beachgoers to become concerned.
A local told Cornwall Live that the fin, seen from around 30 meters away, appeared to be too large for “the average basking shark”.
Other commentators have speculated the fin could be a dolphin or even a seal, as the grainy image makes it hard to properly identify.
The local said: “The photo was taken at around 11 am at Gunwalloe from about 30 meters ‘ish’, I can’t say what type of shark it is but it 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.”
Last summer, a blue shark was seen near Trelissick beach.
Dan Jarvis, from the charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue called the sighting “worrying”.
He added that sharks do not usually come that close to beaches and feared someone might get injured.
In August last year, the Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team went to the aid of a snorkeler who was thought to have sustained a shark bite.
The swimmer had suffered a leg injury and was transferred into the care of medics.
While basking sharks are harmless to humans, blue sharks have been known to attack although incidents are said to be “extremely rare,” according to the British Sea Fishing website.
Only four fatal and 25 non-fatal attacks have been confirmed.
The last sighting near to a British coastline of what is thought to have been a deadly great white was off the coast of St Ives in 2007.
Another great white was seen in August 1999 by experienced fishermen off the coast of Padstow.