Tourists run from water after shark spotted in Kent

Tourists fled the water in panic after a shark was reportedly spotted in Herne Bay, Kent.

Beachgoers were making the most of the hottest day of the year - in fact, the hottest July day ever recorded - when people started running out of the water "like a Mexican wave" after spotting the fin around 25 yards out.

Natalie Worrall, 19, was at the beach with her mum and saw the scene.

Speaking to Kent Online, she said: "We were just having a beach day when I saw what at first I thought might be a piece of wood, but then appeared to be a triangular fin.

"It was travelling in the opposite direction to the tide and soon everyone got out of the water. It was like watching a Mexican wave because everyone stood up.

"It was quite close in and I had actually been in the water myself. Then I saw a splash. But I didn't want to shout shark because I was trying to get my mum's attention.

"But then everyone was standing and pointing and I thought it must be a shark, but I didn't want to make a fuss and make an idiot of myself."

Natalie also shared the shark news on Twitter:

Never thought I'd live to see the day everyone runs out of the sea because there's a shark, in Herne Bay!!!!!!! #hernebayshark @Kent_Online
— natalie (@nlworrall) July 1, 2015

A spokesman for the Coastguard told the Mirror: "There has been no official confirmation from experts of a shark in the water, although Kent does see basking sharks coming in quite close to shore.

"This is quite early for shark sightings.

"This happens every years - people often mistake the bigger fish, like whale sharks, for something deadly.

"It is very rare for anything dangerous to be in the water in this country."