Kids flee ocean as massive shark seen near Cornwall shore.

As the sun began to set over the beautiful Cornish coast, a group of children were enjoying their day playing in the sea. The water was crystal clear and the gentle waves were perfect for splashing around in. But suddenly, their laughter turned to screams of terror as they spotted a dark figure swimming towards them.

It was a 10ft long basking shark, a juvenile, making its way through the water. Its dorsal fin was easily visible from about 20ft away, causing the children to panic and flee to shore. The sea creature continued to swim close to the harbor wall and the beach where the kids were playing.

Luckily, Andy Narbett, who runs Tiger Lilly Boat Trip St Ives, was in the area and managed to capture the terrifying moment on video and in pictures. He recalls, "I had just finished my trips for the day and was walking around the harbor front when I saw the basking shark near the wall. It was an incredible sight to see it so up close, especially since we haven't seen any basking sharks in the bay for years."

The shark continued to swim into the harbor, visible through the clear waters. "It was amazing to see it so close," Andy said, "but I can imagine it was quite scary for the kids who were only 20ft away from it. They didn't know that basking sharks are harmless, so they started screaming and quickly got out of the water. There were about 20 kids on the beach and eight in the water on paddle boards."

After the incident, Andy took to social media to share his experience and even joked about the famous movie "Jaws" making an appearance in the harbor. Basking sharks, scientifically known as Cetorhinus maximus, are not a threat to humans and solely feed on plankton. They used to be hunted for their meat, fins, and liver oil, but have been protected since 1998.

These gentle giants are the biggest fish in Britain and can grow up to 40ft in length, weighing over 10,000lbs. They are second only to the whale shark in size and are one of only three shark species that feed on plankton. During the spring and summer months, they are known to come into shallow waters to feed.

In conclusion, while the sighting of a basking shark may have caused some initial fear for the children playing in the sea, it was truly a rare and special experience to witness such a magnificent creature up close. And thanks to the protection of these creatures, future generations will also have the chance to witness the beauty of basking sharks in their natural habitat.

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