Swimmers at Ancon Beach in Marbella, Spain, experienced a moment of panic when they believed a shark was thrashing near the shore, only to discover it was a giant tuna. Footage of the incident showed beachgoers scrambling to escape what they perceived as a dangerous marine predator.
From a distance, the large fish, estimated to weigh 650 pounds, appeared menacing. One beachgoer was seen attempting to swim away from the commotion in fear, while others approached cautiously to get a better look.
A Giant Tuna in Distress
The creature was identified as a massive tuna, which was thrashing violently in the shallow water, its gills bleeding. It is believed the fish may have become distressed after being injured by fishing gear or a jet ski.
Witnesses described the scene, with one local commenter noting the potential for panic, saying, "My God, if it were me, I would already have s*** my pants, or rather my swimming trunks." Another social media user remarked, "If I was that swimmer I would have died from a heart attack. It looks like a shark," adding, "All that was missing was the music from Jaws."
Rescue Effort
Once it became apparent that the fish was not a shark and was in distress, beachgoers organized an effort to help it return to deeper waters. They used sun beds and deck chairs to gently push the tuna back out to sea.
Jade Bloomberg, a British expat in Marbella, observed the fish's distress and entered the water to check for injuries or entanglement but found none. She described the tuna as "huge, so beautiful."
Another beachgoer suggested that collisions with jet skis or similar watercraft are a possible cause for such incidents, noting that tuna are sometimes found close to the coast and can be mistaken for dolphins.