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
Shark off the coast of Aberdyfi in Gwynedd
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.
