Shark spotted just metres from shore at popular Aussie beach
One surfer shared he was in the water just minutes before the sighting.
Aussie beachgoers hoping to take a dip on a hot day quickly changed their minds after spotting something else swimming in the shallows — a shark.
One local, who captured footage of the predator's dorsal fin cruising just metres from the shoreline at Coffs Harbour’s Corindi Beach on Tuesday, shared the scene in a local Facebook group with many residents reacting in shock.
The beach, at the northern end of the Coffs Coast in NSW, is popular among swimmers, surfers and snorkellers. While it’s unclear exactly what type of shark it is, one stunned viewer shared that they were surfing in that very spot just minutes before the footage was taken.
Sharks spotted in shallows
While it appears that no one is swimming in the water, and the situation seems to be safe, experts have warned that sharks can often be spotted swimming in the shallows and still pose a risk to humans wading through the water.
One Aussie recently captured the moment a tiger shark nearly beached itself while hunting a turtle, while swimmers at a popular Sydney beach were forced to flee the water when a shark was spotted cruising the shallows on Australia Day.
Where am I more likely to be attacked by a shark?
Gavin Naylor who curates the Florida Museum of Natural History’s internationally recognised database on shark bites previously told Yahoo he believes being further out isn’t always the problem because a lot of shark bites happen relatively close to shore.
Instead, being a distance away from other swimmers could increase your chances of being attacked.
Fishermen reel in big bull shark near site of Sydney Harbour attack
Warning as shark darts towards family wading in shallows at Aussie beach
Temperature warning from ocean experts
After young woman Lauren O'Neill was badly mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour last month, marine experts have warned Aussies about the dangers the animals pose as temperatures warm.
Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck added it's not yet certain if more sharks are arriving annually in higher numbers than in previous years.
"It remains to be seen if this will be a cyclical thing, or if it’s going to be happening year, after year, after year due to global warming," Mr Chlebeck said. "But those warm waters will definitely bring more bull sharks and tiger sharks to the area.
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