Multiple sharks were spotted near popular South Coast beaches on Saturday afternoon forcing the evacuation of swimmers from the water.
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The Illawarra-based Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol spotted up to 14 sharks between 50 and 100 metres from shore at various beaches in Jervis Bay.
Aerial Patrol crew estimated the sharks at between 2.5 and 3.5 metres in length at Nelsons, Blenheim, Greenfields, Chinaman’s Beach and Hyams Beaches.
Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol General Manager Harry Mitchell said as Jervis Bay beaches are not patrolled by beach safety providers swimmers were reliant on the Aerial Patrol to provide warnings of potential threats to safety.
Aerial Patrol crew activated the aircraft siren to evacuate the swimmers from the water and sought the help of local Police to attend the area to further warn swimmers.
The sharks remained in the area for over an hour and could be seen from the shore as bystanders followed them along the beach from their safe vantage point.
Earlier, two large Hammerhead sharks were spotted by the aerial patrol near Port Kembla Beach.
The Aerial Patrol urges beachgoers to be vigilant when entering the water this summer and to swim between the flags at patrolled beaches.
Swimmers and surfers are encouraged to avoid the ocean at dawn and dusk when sharks are known to be feeding.
The aerial patrols will continue until the end of the beach season in April.
