TWO Widemouth lifeguards rescued a stranded shark last week.

Ben Halsey and senior lifeguard Tim Holland were approached by a man at Black Rock beach on bank holiday Monday, at around 2pm, who brought the stranded shark, about 100 metres from the flags, to their attention.

Mr Halsey told the Post: “The shark was kind of gathered in some rocks, we couldn’t really see it from our position. It was gasping for air. It was basically dying, so we held it to let the waves rush over its gills.”

Shortly after, the lifeguards released the shark and said they did not see it again.

Mr Halsey added: “Sharks aren’t a normal encounter really! It was the first one I have seen; it was a special thing.”

Staff at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust confirmed the shark was a Starry Smoothhound (Mustelus asterias).

They said the shark is found in the North East Atlantic from British Isles/North Sea to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean, in shallow waters to more than 100 metres.

It is usually found close to the bottom and rarely moving into the water column. It grows to 1.4m in length, and mainly eats crustaceans.

It is not an un-common species, and is listed as IUCN species of least concern. It is a targeted species in the Mediterranean and a common bycatch species in Atlantic bottom trawls, gillnets and line gear. It is also targeted by recreational anglers and can be caught from shore.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.