Girl, 11, is ‘mauled by a shark’ at a Spanish resort

An 11-year-old girl is being treated in hospital following a suspected shark at a Spanish holiday resort.

The alleged attack off Grao de Moncofa, a hotspot for British tourists just south of Benicassim, left the girl with deep wounds on her foot.

After lifeguards plugged the heavy bleeding, she was rushed to the nearest medical centre on Saturday, according to local mayor Wenceslao Alos.

Mr Alos said it was likely she was attacked by a small type of shark measuring between 60cm and 70cm.

The lifeguards said they had ‘never seen anything like’ the attack but would not confirm it was a shark bite, El Periodico reported.

Beachgoers were told to stay away from the scene of the attack but a full evacuation was not ordered because the creature was not spotted.

It was the first shark attack to be reported in the waters for around ten years, officials claimed.

There are said to be 90 species of shark in the Spanish Mediterranean but attacks are incredibly rare, with jellyfish providing more of a threat. 

The alleged attack off Grao de Moncofa, a hotspot for British tourists just south of Benicassim, left the girl with deep wounds on her foot

In 1986, a suspected Great White bit a Spanish windsurfer on the leg, forcing him to later have the limb amputated, the Sun has reported. 

And in 1992, an injured Great White shark washed up in the Catalan resort of Tossa de Mar, but later died.

Authorities were accused of covering up the incident through fear of upsetting the tourist trade.