A red flag went up at St Ouen's Bay in Jersey after a dark grey shark about 10-12ft long was spotted off the coast at about 10:40 BST.
The sighting triggered an immediate beach safety response. The shark was seen entering the bay from the west and heading south, around 131ft from the water's edge, leading lifeguards to clear people from the water across the whole bay.
Jersey reporter Claire Peters said from the scene: “you're not going to believe this, but we've got to get everybody out of the water - we are red flagging the beach because a shark has been spotted further up the bay”.
Swimmers, surfers and families were standing around while the RNLI water vehicle swept the bay. The closure lasted for one hour, with people kept out of the water until lifeguards inspected the area and reopened the beach.
What the sighting meant for beachgoers
The main concern was simple: safety. With the shark reported close enough to be seen in the bay, lifeguards acted quickly to clear the water and check the area before allowing anyone back in.
For anyone already in the water, the message was immediate and direct. For everyone on the beach, it was a short but clear reminder that a reported shark sighting can shut down a busy bay without warning, even if the closure only lasts an hour.
