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Couple stunned as 10ft-long shark surfaces off Devon coast and swims slowly next to beach

By Suzannah Hills

Last updated at 5:55 PM on 19th January 2012



A couple taking a stroll along a British beach were stunned when a giant shark surfaced just off shore and started to slowly swim alongside them.

Steven Gale and Julie Wright were out taking an early-morning walk on Exmouth beach, in Devon, when they spotted what they initially thought was a dog in the water.

But as it slowly swam along, it became clear it was in fact a massive shark with a fin protruding from the sea.

And, incredibly, the excited couple managed to capture the rare encounter on camera, before the shark then disappeared.

Mr Gale said: 'I estimate the shark to be about 10 feet long.

'The dorsal fin on the shark is about half way along its back so there was quite a bit of the shark under the water and the tail can just be seen to the right of the picture, quite a long way from the dorsal fin.'

Experts believe the couple spotted a Basking shark - known as the gentle giant of the sea. They are the largest fish to be found in the coastal waters of the British Isles.

While they are commonly observed near the surface of the sea, both far offshore and close to land, during summer months, basking sharks are very rarely seen during the winter.

It was previously thought they hibernated in the winter months but now marine scientists believe they spend more time in deeper water at depths of up to 3,000 feet feeding on deep water plankton.

Dr David Gibson, managing director at the National Marine Aquarium, based in Plymouth, said: 'Studying the footage it looks to me like a basking shark.


'The shape of the fin, its approximate size and the fact that the animal seemed to be swimming parallel to shore would indicate that this is the case.

'It is unusual - but not unheard of - to see basking sharks in UK waters at this time of year.

'However they are generally not aggressive in nature and therefore unlikely to pose a threat to humans.

'Due to their decline in numbers, basking sharks are protected in the UK and The Shark Trust encourages any sightings to be recorded on its website.'

But basking sharks - which can measure anything up to 25 feet long and weigh up to seven tonnes - are endangered because of its enormous fins, which are a delicacy in the Far East.