Australian beaches closed for record 5th day over 5m great white shark

Updated
Australian beaches remain closed for record 5th day over huge 5 metre great white shark
Australian beaches remain closed for record 5th day over huge 5 metre great white shark



Newcastle beaches have been closed for a record five days following several sighting of a five-metre great white shark.

Beach inspectors say it still too risky to reopen beaches with the massive shark lurking near the Australian coast.

"You don't get a second chance with these things, [a] bite can be fatal," Nobbys Beach inspector Paul Bernard said.

"We've never had a shark this size hanging around."

According to the Guardian, the shark was last spotted on Tuesday at Burwood beach, near Merewether beach where it was first seen on Saturday afternoon.

The shark has been seen a number of times in an area stretching over about 10km. The beaches remain closed as a result.

It is unclear whether there are several sharks in the area, or if it is a single predator, reports ABC News.

"Would I go into the water? Would I put my kids in the water? No," Bernard added.

"I didn't even go ocean ski paddling on my day off yesterday."

Newcastle Council aquatic services co-ordinator Peter Withers, who has served in the region for 37 years, said: "We've consistently seen the big one every day. Certainly it's the biggest shark we've ever had and it's hung around longer than any other shark," he said.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a surfer spotted a dead shark washed on to the rocks at Leggy Point, at the southern end of Burwood beach.

Surfer Craig Hollier said the dolphin had "definitely" been bitten.

"We ask for everyone's cooperation in remaining out of the water at our beaches until lifeguards are satisfied that the shark has moved out of area waters," the council said in a statement.

"It is unusual for a shark to stay around the same coastal areas for this many days in a row, and we would like to have at least a 24 hour period of no sightings before the beaches are reopened," the statement said.



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