Great white shark chokes on sea lion

The shark was found dead two days after it was filmed in distress.

Footage has emerged of the extraordinary moment a dying great white shark tried to beach itself in Australia after biting off more than it could chew.

The mysterious death of the 4m-long male sparked an investigation from fisheries officials in Western Australia when it washed up on Coronation Beach this week.

Two days earlier beachgoers had filmed a shark, believed to be the same one, in clear distress as it thrashed about in the shallow water.

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Concluding their investigation yesterday, WA fisheries experts said the shark had no visible signs of injury or disease - but it did have a large Australian sea lion stuck inside its throat.

"This could explain why the shark was exhibiting such unusual behaviour in shallow waters off Coronation Beach. It is possible that the shark was trying to dislodge the blockage," said lead scientist Dr Rory McAuley.

- Independent