Shocking moment when aggressive shark swims at swimmers in shallow water off Florida, sending them running to shore screaming
- Beachgoers in Florida experienced a scene reminiscent of the movie Jaws when they ran in fear of a shark floating in the water
- Dramatic incident was captured on cell phone video and sees people enjoying a day at the beach when the shark became visible and agitated in the open water
- Calls of ‘shark!’ were called urgently to warn those who may not have noticed the impending danger, including a swimmer on an inflatable nearby
In a scene that could have been straight out of the 1975 movie Jaws, beachgoers were seen running for their lives as a shark roamed the waters in front of them.
The dramatic footage, filmed in Florida, shows beachgoers enjoying a day out on the sand when suddenly a shark was spotted just steps away, swirling and swaying in the open water.
A swimmer on an inflatable can also be seen relaxing close by, leading to frantic shouts of ‘shark!’ is shouted to warn those who may not have seen the imminent danger.
Unlike in the movie where a predatory Great White stalks swimmer without any warning, in this particular case the shark seemed extremely active and agitated and caused quite a splash.
The shark filmed in Perdido Key at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, moving so fast it looked like it was creating waves of its own on the surface, with its black dorsal fin clearly visible to all.
Beachgoers in Florida experienced a scene reminiscent of the movie Jaws when they ran in fear of a shark roaming in the water just feet away
Those standing on the shore quickly ran to safety, and the shark thrashed about
The sighting, which was reported by WEAR was one of several sharks reported over the July 4 holiday weekend.
Great white sharks were recorded near Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts, with sightings reported off the coasts of Chatham, Orleans, and Nantucket.
Cape Cod is known as a shark sighting hotspot due to its increasing seal population, which is believed to attract sharks that feed on it.
“Most of the attention is on Cape Cod, but these sharks can show up anywhere. They travel all along the coast,” said ocean researcher John Chisholm The Boston Herald.
At one point, a swimmer floating around on an inflatable seemed completely oblivious to the danger
The shark began to swim in circles, creating a wake
The dramatic incident was captured on mobile phone video and sees people enjoying a day at the beach when the shark became visible and agitated in the open water
The shark filmed in Perdido Key at 2:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon
Marine biologists suggest avoiding swimming in the ocean before sunrise and after sunset, when sharks are often foraging for food.
“This is when sharks become more active. They generally feed more often during these twilight hours of both sunrise and sunset. And why is that? Because they have some sort of advantage over their prey,” explains ocean biologist Bob Hueter FLASHING.
It is also recommended not to enter the water if it is bleeding and not to wear bright swimsuits that could attract sharks.