A massive shark, estimated to be over 25 feet long, was spotted patrolling the waters off the British coast, leaving onlookers stunned. The enormous sea creature was filmed cruising just below the surface in scenes reminiscent of the movie Jaws.
One dramatic clip shows a giant dorsal fin slicing through the water, while another captures the huge shark heading directly towards sightseers aboard a boat. For a moment, it seemed like a scene from the Hollywood blockbuster.
Harmless Giant
However, despite its terrifying appearance, the giant fish – spotted just off the Isle of Man – was in fact a harmless basking shark, a massive species that feeds on microscopic prey like plankton.
Nicholas Lewis, of Casey J Fishing Trips, said: "It's been years since we've seen so many basking sharks. They were 25-foot long. It can be hard to judge but when they're next to the boat you know."
Second-Largest Fish
Basking sharks are the second-largest fish in the world, surpassed only by the whale shark. They are also one of only three shark species that feed on plankton, alongside the whale shark and the elusive megamouth shark.
The gentle giants are regularly seen swimming alone or in small groups as they slowly glide through coastal waters with their huge mouths open to filter-feed. Despite their enormous size and fearsome appearance, basking sharks pose no danger to humans.
Recent Shark Scare
The sighting comes less than a week after a Jersey beach required evacuation after a terrifying 12-foot shark was seen swimming near the shore, before being 'punched' by a desperate lifeguard.
The emergency lockdown, which lasted for 45 minutes, began at around 10.40am when the grey fish glided into the popular bay. RNLI lifeguard Tom Rolls said he and his colleagues initially thought the terrifying report was a hoax.
Speaking to the Bailiwick Express, he said: "We got the call through from one of the guards at Watersplash, and he basically said that a shark had been spotted in the line-up.
"Initially, we were like, 'that's a joke, you're having us on here.' But then he was persistent. He said multiple sightings had been seen by members of the public."
The drama escalated when the shark swam directly beneath another lifeguard, named Nick, who had to fend it off with his bare hands.
Mr Rolls added: "He said it looked definitely more like a shark than anything else. He even said he kind of punched it as he was paddling, so it must have been really close to the surface."
