Moment swimmers save stranded seven-foot shark after it washes up on busy beach
A seven-foot shark was rescued by swimmers on a beach after it became trapped in a fishing net.
Two brave people pushed it back out to sea from the shoreline in Primorsky Krai, Russia on Saturday. The incident was filmed and at one moment during the clip a beachgoer is seen prising open the shark’s jaws to seemingly pose for snaps. According to reports, the shark became trapped in a fishing net and was dragged to shore by its tail. After taking a few photos with the huge fish - thought to be a porbeagle shark - swimmers then helped it back into the open waters.
One witness said: "Take a look around when you’re swimming. You’ll remember everyone who was here.” Porbeagles prefer cold, temperate waters and can be found at depths of up to 2,300 feet. They feed on small fish, molluscs and crustaceans and resemble a smaller version of the ocean's apex predator, the great white shark.
Closer to home, a rare six-foot shark was found washed up on a UK beach for the first time ever earlier this year in March. Mum-of-two Alisha Openshaw thought she had rescued the sea creature when she came across it in the shallows of her local beach in Hampshire and dragged it into deeper waters on Friday.
Though the 38-year-old said she watched it swim away, the shark was found dead back on the shore. It was identified as a smalltooth sand tiger shark, a species which is classified as Vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species.
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