Burleigh beach closes then reopens after multiple sharks spotted in water off Gold Coast

It has been a Boxing Day beach yo-yo - with a shark sighting two days after four were spotted swimming close to shore closing a popular Gold Coast beach again. It has since reopened.

Burleigh Heads beach was closed after a shark was spotted only two days after four sharks were swimming close to the shoreline.

As many beachgoers flock to the popular beach for Boxing Day, some have said they were disappointed.

At around 9.30am on Monday Surf Lifesavers evacuated the beach after they saw a “couple of sharks” within a bait ball just off Burleigh Heads.

Burleigh Beach closed due to shark sighting Picture: John Affleck

A Surf Lifesaving spokesperson said they had also seen bait balls at Palm Beach and Tugun, however no sharks or “sea creatures” were spotted in the morning.

They said they reopened the beach roughly 30 minutes later to ensure the sharks had moved on.

The spokesperson said they urged people to swim between the red and yellow flags and take extra precautions during the Christmas/New Year period.

“If you are going to have some alcoholic beverages, don’t drink and swim,” they said.

“Please swim between the red and yellow flags because if we can’t see you, we can’t save you.”

Burleigh Heads beach closed after shark sighting

December 24: Beach closed after four sharks spotted

Swimmers were forced out of the water after four sharks were spotted off the Burleigh shoreline on Christmas Eve morning.

Surf Life Savers evacuated the beach about 10.30am on Saturday after spotting about four sharks in waters off the coast.

Burleigh Heads Surf Life Savers, pictured patrolling the area and scaring off four Sharks that had come near the swimming area. Picture: Mike Batterham

A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokeswoman said the four sharks were spotted by a drone which is a part of the Shark Smart program being run by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Burleigh Heads Surf Life Savers closed the beach after four sharks were spotted. Picture: Mike Batterham

The sharks were following a school of bait fish.

Life savers evacuated the water and closed the beach for about 15 minutes while the sharks passed.

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