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This is the terrifying moment a tourist beach was forced to evacuate as a 6ft 6in shark lurked near the shoreline.

Holidaymakers were urged to flee when the shark's fin was spotted protruding from the water just metres away from where people were swimming.

Spectators gathered on the sand, capturing footage of the predator on their mobiles. One local exclaimed: "It's a huge beast."

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They estimated that the shark measured around 6ft 6 inches (2 metres) in length.

Lifeguards cautioned beachgoers to maintain a safe distance while an emergency services boat was swiftly dispatched to the location, reports the Mirror.

The boat crew succeeded in guiding the shark away from the shallow water, where it risked stranding itself, and back into the open sea.

The dramatic incident occurred at La Reya Beach in Puerto de Mazarrón near Murcia, Spain, last Thursday,.

Every year, up hundreds of thousands of Irish flock to the country for their summer holidays.

The video was posted on TikTok, where it quickly went viral, amassing 940,000 views and thousands of comments, as reported by NeedToKnow.

One local commented, "Between jellyfish and sharks, I've lost all desire to go to the beach."

Jesus added, "It's a blue shark and does not normally attack humans.

"I was swimming there in the bay, I turned around and that blue shark appeared next to me," shared Miguel.

Alfred noted, "It was probably in some kind of trouble, that's why it was swimming around."

Ana stated: "I'm not going to Puerto de Mazarrón anymore."

In early 2024, a deceased shark weighing 200kg was found in Puerto de Mazarrón.

Marine specialists suggested that local shark sightings could be due to strong currents, disorientation, injury, or the creature searching for food.

In the Mediterranean, species such as the blue shark and the dogfish are the most frequently sighted sharks.

Authorities have advised locals to calmly exit the water if they spot a shark, and immediately alert lifeguards or emergency services.

This comes as a colossal 15-foot great white shark was caught on camera just feet away from a pier at a popular tourist destination.

Carlos Gauna, 45, recorded the footage on July 31 with his drone. He expressed that it's rare to see sharks so close to the shore and was delighted to capture the shark in its natural environment without disturbance.

"I've never seen one that big in the Santa Monica area and into Malibu that close to shore," said Gauna, a photographer and owner of Malibu Artists in Ventura County.

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