Shark sighting fails to deter eager swimmers

A SHARK sighting has led to Sydney’s Manly Beach becoming the latest to be declared a danger zone, with lifeguards urging people to get out of the water yesterday afternoon.

Despite the warnings, many beachgoers were refusing to be intimidated and remained in the sea at Manly. Picture: JOHN FOTIADIS

A SHARK sighting has led to Sydney’s Manly Beach becoming the latest to be declared a danger zone, with lifeguards urging people to get out of the water yesterday afternoon.

But despite the warnings, many were refusing to be ­intimidated and remained in the sea, according to Surf Life Saving NSW.

The alert came as Newcastle’s beaches remained closed for a record ninth consecutive day and were expected to do so into this week.

At Manly, a member of the public is believed to have raised the alarm after spotting an unspecified type of shark while swimming about 1.30pm.

“We’ve got the inflatable rescue boats out to chase it away,” a spokeswoman for Surf Life Saving NSW said.

“The problem is there were already a lot of swimmers and surfers in the water who won’t come out. We suggest that if people continue to stay in the water they’re doing so at their own risk.”

The sea off Newcastle was first declared a no-go area when a 5m great white shark was seen at Merewether Beach on January 10.

A helicopter crew spent yesterday scouring the ocean for signs of the predator, nicknamed Bruce, along with a 3.5m metre shark that lunched on a dolphin.

Neither have been spotted since Friday but Surf Life Saving NSW said no decision on reopening the beaches would be made until today.

Shark attacks have also closed other NSW beaches in recent days. Lifeguards were also stopping people from going in the water at Port Kembla and Windang.

The Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman said this was due to a dead seal and injured shark that had both been attacked by what was believed to be a much larger shark.