Terrifying moment model appears to swim in the ocean unaware five metre-long tiger shark is behind her

A MODEL has told of the moment she was casually waving at people, unaware they were desperately trying to tell her a huge shark was behind her.

A German model has spoken about the moment she came within a whisker of being devoured by a giant great white shark. Picture: CEN/Australscope

A GERMAN model has spoken of the moment she was casually waving at people, unaware they were desperately trying to tell her that a huge shark was swimming behind her.

The shocking moment was captured on camera and shared on German media, showing the huge shark with its fin poking out of the water just behind her.

Model Simone Gutsche said she had been enjoying the beach and sunshine on a holiday in Florida, USA.

Gutsche, who as well as being a model is also a secretary and actress, had been spending time relaxing at Cocoa Beach in Cape Canaveral, when she decided to go for a swim.

Desperate onlookers waved to Simone to warn her of the shark behind her off the Florida coast. Picture: CEN/Australscope

She said: “There was nobody in the water, not many people were around. I found the emptiness beautiful.”

She told German media she had not been concerned when people suddenly started running on the beach and added: “A couple waved to me full of excitement. Out of friendliness, I waved back.”

But then she became concerned that maybe things were not right, and decided to leave the water to see what they were shouting about.

She said: “The people at the beach told me that just 16 feet (4.8m) behind me a shark was swimming.”

Gutsche did not want to believe the people, until someone showed her a picture they took of the shark.

She said: “I was so terrified I didn’t go back into the sea again for days!”

Tiger sharks are a common occurrence in the waters at Cape Canaveral. Together with the great white shark they count as the most dangerous to people.

They often visit shallow reefs, harbours, and canals, creating the potential for deadly encounters with humans.

Some social media users believe the terrifying photo is the work of a clever Photoshop user.