8 May, 2024 @ 10:59
1 min read

Shark forces beach closure in Spain: Lifeguards hoist red flag after spotting seven foot creature in the water

BEACHGOERS have been banned from swimming at a popular Menorca resort after a shark sighting. 

The seven-foot blue shark was spotted with its fin pointing out of the water at Arenal d’en Castell beach around 3:30pm on Monday, May 7.

Although the Ajuntament des Mercadal has made no official comment, it is thought the ban has now been lifted. 

It is the first sighting of the year at the beach, where a shark was spotted in June 2018. 

READ MORE: ‘Shark’ sighting off Spain’s Valencia coast forces beach to close – before experts discover it was just a big fish

Shark sightings are not uncommon off the coast of Menorca.

Blue sharks are the most common species in Spain and are often the motivation for beach closures. 

They rarely bite humans but have been involved in several biting incidents, four of which ended in fatalities.  

READ MORE: Blue shark bites swimmer in leg forcing bathing ban at beaches in Spain’s Valencia area

Last year, holidaymakers ran out of the sea in Torremolinos, Malaga after a shark fin was spotted. 

Meanwhile in 2016, a tourist in Elche, Alicante suffered a ‘large’ bite to his hand after he was attacked by a blue shark.

READ MORE: Spain rails at the British media once again for scare stories after sharks sighted at popular resorts

Yzabelle Bostyn

Yzabelle Bostyn is an NCTJ trained journalist who started her journalistic career at the Olive Press in 2023.
Before moving to Spain, she studied for a BA in English Literature and Hispanic Studies at the University of Sheffield.
After graduating she moved to the university’s journalism department, one of the best in the UK.
Throughout the past few years, she has taken on many roles including social media marketing, copywriting and radio presenting.
She then took a year out to travel Latin America, scaling volcanoes in Guatemala and swimming with sharks in Belize.
Then, she came to the Olive Press last year where she has honed her travel writing skills and reported on many fantastic experiences such as the Al Andalus luxury train.
She has also undertaken many investigations, looking into complex issues like Spain’s rental crisis and rising cancer rates.
Always willing to help, she has exposed many frauds and scams, working alongside victims to achieve justice.
She is most proud of her work on Nolotil, a drug linked to the deaths of many Brits in Spain.
A campaign launched by Yzabelle has received considerable support and her coverage has been by the UK and Spanish media alike.
Her writing has featured on many UK news outlets from the Sun to the Mail Online, who contracted her to report for them in Tenerife on growing tourism issues.
Recently, she has appeared on Times Radio covering deadly flooding in Valencia.

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