It could have been a scene straight out of Jaws.
Swimmers at Hillary’s Dog Beach near Perth, Western Australia, came perilously close to death on December 28 after a tiger shark was spotted lurking near shore.
Stunning drone footage from beachgoer Sam Wood shows the giant predator in the clear and iridescent Australian waters – just yards away from unsuspecting bathers.
At one point, the shark is seen charging at a woman before drastically turning around and deciding he’s not interested in her.
“I was concerned that this might be an attack and obviously I was quite scared,” Wood told a local news outlet after the shark sighting.
The local said he was filming with his drone about 800 meters from the beach and ran to shore when he noticed there was a shark in the shallow water. All swimmers were quickly pulled out of the water and an attack prevented.
At one point, the shark is seen charging at a woman before drastically turning around and deciding he’s not interested in her. rich in history
Footage shows the giant predator in the clear and iridescent Australian waters – just yards away from unsuspecting bathers
Viewers who saw the local report of the shark sighting took to Facebook to share their thoughts, with many Western Australian residents saying it’s not at all unusual to see the predators.
“Over a period of six months I saw six sharks…Now I just don’t swim anymore,” one wrote.
“No surprise to me. I’ve seen things like that in life. I’ve seen rays and sharks get over 5ft in waist deep water to within 2ft of swimmers and have no idea,” chipped in another.
Viewers who saw the local report of the shark sighting took to Facebook to share their thoughts, with many Western Australian residents saying it’s not at all unusual to see the predators. rich in history
A third explained: “I got the impression that Western Australian waters are teeming with sharks and those who like the shallows. I love the coast there, but I wouldn’t go swimming.”
In fact, shark attacks are not uncommon in Western Australia. In October, a man nearly had his arm severed after being bitten by a shark while spearfishing in the area.
But it’s not just Australia that’s seeing a spike in shark sightings and attacks.
Luckily, no one was hurt, and the shark didn’t seem interested in swimmers splashing near shore. rich in history
Last summer, the east coast of the United States experienced a plague of sharks with a spate of attacks.
There have also been several shark sightings and attacks in Florida, with viral video showing two sharks circling swimmers frolicking in the water at a Jacksonville beach.