6-foot-long Smalltooth Sand Tiger Shark washed up on UK beach after being rescued by ‘brave mother’

A rare 6-foot-long small-toothed sand tiger shark has washed up on a popular British beach. It was hours after I was saved by my “brave” mother.

Discovered at Lepe Beach in New Forest, Hampshire, this shark is believed to be the first of its kind to be found in British waters.

Alisha Openshaw, a mother of two, said she thought she had saved a large shark when she came across it in shallow water at a local beach on Friday and dragged it into deeper water.

A 38-year-old man saw the shark swim away but was now found dead on shore.

It was identified as a Smalltooth Snake Shark, a Critically Endangered and Rarely Found Species.

Alisha Openshaw (right), mother of two, said she thought she had saved her when she ran into a large shark in shallow water at a local beach on Friday and dragged it into deeper water.

Discovered at Lepe Beach in New Forest, Hampshire, this shark is believed to be the first of its kind to be found in British waters.

Efforts to recover the shark from Lepe Beach in the New Forest (pictured) in Hampshire for further examination and autopsy are currently underway. [File image]

Deep-sea sharks are known to be non-aggressive to humans, but they generally prefer warm waters to the chilly coasts of the UK.

This heavily protected species grows up to 12 feet long and weighs 289 kg.

There are probably fewer than 250 adult sand tiger sharks left, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Efforts are currently underway to retrieve the shark from Lepe Beach in New Forest, Hampshire for further examination and autopsy.

On Friday afternoon, Openshaw was at the beach with her children when she spotted a creature on the beach that she thought had been there for “two hours or so.”

There I saw a beautician dive in, drag her into deeper waters, and swim away.

Ms Openshaw, from Dibden Prilew in Hants, said: “I was heading to the beach for a walk. My mom was already there so I had to take the kids for a nice walk. .

“There were a few people there and I saw a shark splashing. He was splashing around the start and I was afraid no one would help him. Did.

“At first he didn’t know what he was talking about, but when he got there, it was very clear that it was a shark. He must have been there for two hours, but no one helped him.” How unbelievable.

A rare shark was found at Lepe Beach in New Forest, Hampshire.

When Alisha Openshaw, a mum of two, came across a large shark in shallow water at her local beach on Friday, she thought she had saved it and dragged her into deeper water.

There are probably fewer than 250 adult sand tiger sharks left today, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

“I don’t want any animal to suffer. I can’t even kill a fly myself. I know I just wanted to save him.”

The mother then dragged the animal by its tail into the deep waters so that it could swim safely.

The shark then swam away towards the Isle of Wight.

The mother said: “It was pretty big, you just think about it later. Later you think, ‘Oh, I actually saved a shark.’ It must have been submerged.

However, despite her best efforts, the shark washed ashore the next day.

She wrote on Facebook, “I just went to the beach on your usual Friday afternoon!

Locals took to social media to spread their theories.

Vicks Hales said, “Why was he off course? Perhaps come up with a warmer current. Poor thing.”

Graham Maggs commented:

Others congratulated their mothers on their efforts, saying, “So sad, thank you for trying to save it,” while one joked, “I don’t think I’ll ever swim in Lepe anymore.”