Kayaker stunned after spotting four-metre shark circling around him off UK coast

06 September 2023 , 21:13

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One Brit was out fishing with a pal when he spotted the shark fin (Image: Ally Connell Sr / SWNS)

One kayaker was left terrified after they spotted a shark fin circling around him, during a fishing trip.

Ally Connell, an avid kayaker from Dunbar, Scotland, was just one mile from shore when he saw the huge fish cresting through the water. The 38-year-old recognised it as a basking shark, which can grow over four metres long and are the second largest species of shark in the world.

Despite the initial shock, Ally managed to capture this extraordinary experience on camera. He said: "I went out fishing with a friend on our kayaks. We are both local to Dunbar and so we go out from the east beach. Around a mile and a half from the east beach shore, I noticed a big fin beside my friend’s kayak. It then started to circle my kayak.

The basking shark swam around them in the North Sea (Ally Connell Sr / SWNS)

Ally Connell Senior was out on a fishing trip at the time (Ally Connell Sr / SWNS)

“I knew it was a basking shark – I thought it was amazing, but I only managed to get a few snaps. It was around the length of my kayak, about four metres, and very curious. It’s the first basking shark I’ve seen in the four years I’ve been fishing there.”

This marked the first time Ally had seen a basking shark in the four years he's been fishing in the waters. Basking sharks, despite their intimidating size - some growing as large as 26-ft - pose no real risk to humans as they are one of only three shark species that consume plankton.

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These gentle giants are often found around the coasts of Scotland and Ireland, but are classified as endangered in the North Atlantic sea, according to charity The Wildlife Trusts. Undeterred by his close encounter, Ally is eager to return to the waters, hoping this sighting will be the first of many more to come.

He added: "It was an amazing experience - and I have to say, being out on the North Sea in a kayak is good for the soul!" This statement paints a vivid picture of the therapeutic benefits of braving the elements and embracing the great outdoors.

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Elizabeth Hunter