Tourists raise emergency shark alert at Bondi Beach with an unexpected ending
A dark fin from a “fast moving” animal poking out of the sea stirred terror in two New York tourists.
The foreign scuba-divers sparked a major shark search operation at Sydney’s popular beach on Thursday when lifeguards, a helicopter and divers scoured the water.
Bystanders watched the emergency operation unfold, which was soon called off after the rescue team discovered the menacing mammal was actually a playful grey seal splashing around in the water.
Despite the mistake rescue services praised the visitors for doing the right thing and raising the alarm.
“These sort of things don't happen often but they do happen,” Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters CEO Steve Leahy told the Daily Mail.
“They saw a fast moving animal move past them and they did the right thing to get out of the water and raise the alarm.”
Despite the false alarm, the rescue team could see the humour in the situation, Mr Leahy said.
He said although costly, undertaking false rescue operations such as these ensured a quick and responsible reaction when an emergency operation did arise.
News break – February 19
