Shark sightings shut down iconic beaches in Sydney and on the Gold Coast with thousands of Australia Day revellers ordered onto the sand
- A hammerhead shark was spotted near the shore of Shelly Beach inn Manly
- Swimmers were ordered out of the water as sirens blared at the tourist beach
- There were two bull shark sightings in Surfer’s Paradise on Tuesday morning
Thousands of swimmers have been evacuated from Sydney’s iconic Manly Beach and Main Beach at Surfers Paradise after separate shark sightings.
It’s understood a hammerhead shark was spotted near the shore at Shelly Beach in Manly by the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter at 11.30am.
Swimmers were ordered out of the water as sirens blared at the popular tourist beach, while lifeguards encouraged people to move to the nearby harbour.
Huge crowds were ordered out of the water at Main Beach on the Gold Coast after a shark sighting
Thousands of swimmers were forced to the shore after a shark sighting at Manly
‘Beach is shut, thousands are packed on the sand like sardines,’ one Manly local told Daily Mail Australia.
Hammerhead sharks are terrifying due to their 6m length, but they are not considered a great threat to humans.
Massive crowds of swimmers were also ordered out of the water twice at at Main Beach in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast on Tuesday after two sightings.
Lifeguards were seen blowing whistles and refusing to allow surfers into the water after at 10am, and again 45 minutes later after a two-metre bull shark swum into the area.
Swimmers were ordered out of the water as sirens blared at the popular tourist beach, while lifeguards encouraged people to move to the nearby Manly Harbour
The first shark was seen attacking a school of bait fish, but it remains unclear as to whether there were two different sharks.
Swimmers were allowed back in the water 15 minutes later, as lifesavers continue patrolling the area on jet skis.
Bull sharks are very aggressive and grow up to 3m long, but attacks are extremely rare.