Children Scared as Shark Swims into Cornwall Harbour

A juvenile basking shark, measuring approximately 10 feet, was spotted in St Ives Harbour, Cornwall, on Tuesday evening, leading to a chaotic scene as around 30 children and teenagers rushed out of the water in fear. The sighting occurred around 9 PM, with the shark swimming close to the beach, prompting screams from the unaware youngsters who mistook the creature for a threat due to its dorsal fin visible in the clear water. Andy Narbett, a local boat trip operator, captured a photograph of the shark and expressed his excitement at the rare sighting, noting that basking sharks have not been seen in the bay for several years. He reassured the public that these sharks are harmless, explaining that the children likely did not realize they were in no danger. Narbett humorously remarked on social media that it felt like "Jaws had entered the harbour," reflecting on the panic that ensued among the beachgoers. Basking sharks, the largest fish species in the UK, can grow up to 26 feet and weigh over 10,000 pounds. Once heavily fished for their meat and oil, they have been protected since 1998 due to declining populations. As filter feeders, basking sharks pose no threat to humans, as they primarily consume plankton and other small marine life, often entering shallow waters during the spring and summer months to feed.