In addition to 270km/h winds and rising floodwaters, Cyclone Debbie brought another threat with her: bull sharks in the muddy deluge that has hit northern Australia.

A journalist covering flooding from the massive storm, which continues to dump heavy rain on the east coast of Queensland state, was shocked to come across a dead bull shark that was apparently swept up in the storm. It had made its way about 2km inland before being stranded on a road.

Emergency services authorities warned residents to stay out of the floodwaters because of the possible threat posed by sharks.

“Think it’s safe to go back in the water? Think again! A bull shark washed up in Ayr. Stay out of floodwater,” the Queensland Fire and Emergency service warned on Twitter.

WIN News reporter Philip Calder tells news.com.au that he was in the town of Ayr to shoot video of a flooded road and couldn’t believe he came across the shark in a puddle. He says the shark is “the talk of the town” and many locals have turned out to touch it.

Some social media users are drawing a connection between the shark and Syfy’s Sharknado film series, which features sharks getting swept up in cyclones and wreaking havoc on cities.