Man escapes police by jumping into sea near shark

A man in the US tried to escape police by jumping into the sea and swimming away - except he happened to swim straight into the path of a shark.

Zachary Kingsbury, 20, from North Carolina, jumped into the sea in Surf City after a routine traffic stop turned into an arrest for illegal contraband.

Kingsbury decided the best course of action would be to take off running and jump into the sea.

Police officers used a drone to track his movements and spotted the shark swimming in his direction.

He was trailed by the shark that kept swimming near him.

The fugitive swam for more than one hour for a total of about 1.2km before being rescued by police and sent to Pender County Jail.

It is not clear whether he was aware of the shark.

He has been charged with resisting arrest, obstructing an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana of up to a half an ounce.