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Huge Shark That Washed Ashore In Yorkshire Dies

Huge Shark That Washed Ashore In Yorkshire Dies

Sadly, despite the best efforts of rescuers the animal was put to sleep by a vet

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A 15ft shark that was found washed up on a beach in Yorkshire, had to be put to sleep by vets as it failed to get back into open waters.

The whopping basking shark - which is the second largest fish in the world - was first spotted stranded in shallow waters on Filey beach yesterday evening and eventually ended up on the beach.

Rescuers rushed out to help get the shark back into deeper waters and out into the open sea, but the confused shark back out to sea, but it later found itself re-stranded and had to put to sleep by vets.

Ben Lack

While it's not particularly uncommon for basking sharks to be seen in the UK, they tend to hang around near Scotland and it's unusual for them to be seen off the east coast of England.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue said: "With the help of the local Coastguard and RNLI teams, together they managed to guide the 4.4-metre long creature back into the water as the tide came in.

"Unfortunately, the shark appeared to be struggling as it was listing consistently over to its right-hand side and circling in the shallows, sometimes needing support from the rescuers.

Hazel Lewis/BDMLR

"Despite attempts to move it into deeper water the shark continued to head back to the beach where it re-stranded and later in the evening was put to sleep by a vet due to the poor prognosis."

"Thank you to all Medics, Filey Lifeboat Station, Filey Coastguard, Scarborough SEA LIFE Sanctuary and RSPCA (England and Wales) who attended plus our Hotline Coordinator Teri who did what they could for the animal under these unusual and difficult circumstances."

Experts believe the shark may have suffered a brain injury during the incident due to the lack of oxygen passing through its gills, which would explain it's unusual behaviour.

Ben Lack/YappApp

Sea Watch's Robin Petch told the BBC: "It was in the shallows in Filey Bay trying to beach itself and members of the public, the Coastguard and the RNLI were in attendance trying to stop it and persuade it to go out to sea.

"There was a vet in attendance and in the end, they decided the best thing to do for the animal was to euthanise it."

Featured Image Credit: Ben Lack/YappApp

Topics: UK News, Animals