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Confused shark rescued at Woolacombe

Fish out of water - the shark is usually a bottom dweller Credit: Freya Womersley

A confused shark has been returned to the ocean depths off Woolacombe after washing up in the shallows. The metre-long starry smooth hound shark was spotted by a member of the public but was eventually helped back out to sea with the help of National Trust beach rangers and RNLI lifeguards

It is very unusual to see one so close to the beach. The Woolacombe shark was a large specimen, fully grown, grey in colour, with a series of spots on her back, not unlike a clear night sky, giving her the ‘starry’ name. Starry Smooth Hounds live beyond the wave zone, feeding on crabs.