Two metre-long shark spotted in Silvermine Bay on Lantau South
Beach-goers warned to stay out of the water on one of the hottest days of the year
Swimmers hoping for a dip at Silvermine Bay beach on Saturday were warned off after a shark measuring up to two metres long was spotted lurking just outside the shark net.
The normally packed Lantau beach, a popular summer retreat for residents escaping Hong Kong Island, was deserted after lifeguards made public announcements that a “big fish” had been sighted.
But there were no shark warnings or red flags hoisted.
Police said they received a report at 12.50pm that a beach-goer had spotted what he thought was a shark at the beach when he was having lunch at a restaurant.
Officers from the Marine South Division then launched a search and spotted the shark outside the net.
Alex Kwok Siu-kit, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Lifeguards’ Union, said it was difficult for sharks to chew through nets but swimmers should avoid the beach.
“It is still dangerous because shark nets are not totally safe. People should avoid swimming there for now,” he said. “It is difficult to chew through the shark net, but who knows if there is a hole in the net?”
Kwok said sharks were rarely a problem at Hong Kong beaches.
The shark was spotted as the Observatory said that temperatures in many places had risen to about 30 degrees Celsius by around noon, making it one of the hottest days of the year.
“A southerly airstream is bringing hot weather to the coast of Guangdong,” it said.
In 1995 three swimmers were killed in shark attacks off the Sai Kung peninsula.
In May of that year, a sports teacher disappeared while diving in Hang Hau, Tsueng Kwan O, after school. His remains, with his lower parts eaten off, were found later.
In June, a hair stylist swimming at Sheung Sze Wan called out for help when he was 50 metres offshore. He was found dead with part of his left thigh off.
Later that month, in Hong Kong’s last fatal attack, a woman swimmer, 45, had her arm and leg bitten off by what was thought to be a tiger shark.
