BEACHGOERS fled the water as a shark was spotted swimming dangerously near swimmers and children in the shallows.
A dramatic video reminiscent of Jaws showed parents on a Florida beach grabbing their children and rushing out of the water.
The clip shared online showed the distinctive dorsal fin and tail moving through the water on the shoreline.
People began to move toward the safety of the beach as others gathered on the edge to shout at those still in the water.
As the shark moved slightly deeper, and closer to the swimmers, one man can be heard shouting: "Holy s***! Holy f***!"
Children can be heard squealing in the water as the creature comes within inches of them.
A number of people continue to shout: "Get out!"
"What the f****?" another man is heard saying in the background.
It appears to be dusk when the footage was taken, which is typically when sharks are most active.
Experts often advise beachgoers not to enter the water in the early hours of the morning or at dusk and at night.
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On social media, some people have speculated that the shark was a Bull Shark, which is a species that is known to be particularly aggressive.
However, others suggested it was a Lemon or Hammerhead shark.
"That's a hammerhead hunting stingrays," one Twitter user said.
They added: "If that was a bull those people would've been in trouble!"
Others had much more concern for the health of the shark with it being so close to the shore.
One said: "Shark was scared and confused. As soon as he was near people he heads straight out to deeper water.
"It's not safe for them in shallow water. They can run aground like a ship."
"Poor shark," another wrote with one adding: "Gosh he’s very close to shore!!!"
The sighting is reported to have happened on Navarre Beach in Pensacola.
It comes just weeks after a similar sighting there saw another terrifying video go viral.
Beach Safety Director Austin Turnbill said that the sight is not uncommon and typically not a cause for concern.
“There are sharks in the Gulf, everywhere,” he said.
“We see sharks almost every day and there’s nothing to be alarmed of for 99.9 percent of the time.”
Even if sharks are acting aggressively in the area, the animals are typically chasing large fish, he said.
The clips from Florida have emerged as a new map has revealed the locations of the United States' most dangerous beaches, with one hotspot suffering a record number of shark bites.
In 2022, Florida beaches took the top spot for the most unprovoked shark attacks in the world.
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With a total of 16, none of Florida's attacks were fatal, but two instances resulted in medical assistance as severe as amputation, per the Florida Museum.
The only fatal attack in the United States in 2022 happened off the coast of Keawakapu Beach in Maui, Hawaii.
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