Shark heads for swimmer

The shark initially came in towards a swimmer that was about 10meters out from the shore. Photo / Dale Hobson

Cries of "shark" rang out across Papamoa Beach yesterday in the latest of a string of sightings in the western Bay of Plenty this summer.

Hobbyist photographer Dale Hobson was sitting in a rented property overlooking the southern end of the beach at noon when he saw a woman on the beach stand up and point to a dark shape in the water.

Mr Hobson said the shark, which he estimated was a 2.5m bronze whaler, then made a "beeline" towards a man swimming about 10m from the shore.

The man and others in the water quickly headed for the beach, where a "procession" of children and adults had gathered. Mr Hobson said that after about 40 minutes the shark headed back out to deeper waters.

- APN