WATCH: Fin frightens swimmers at Salt Rock beach

A relaxed afternoon at the beach on Sunday went south after bathers were rushed out of the water by lifeguards after, what appeared to be, a shark was spotted just off shore.

Panic set in soon after the fin surfaced and swimmers began to scream ”shark”.

A lifeguard paddled into the water to reach two swimmers beyond the shoreline and bring them in.

However the four lifeguards on duty assured the bathers that it was in fact a 1 metre sting ray, which also has a fin and can be mistaken for a small shark.

The sting rays have a nasty sting which is why the swimmers were asked to leave the surf.

“It swam very close to shore, most likely to remind the swimmers who the territory belonged to,” said KwaDukuza Lifeguard supervisor Bongani Xulu.

Once the ray had swum past, and the mandatory 40 minute waiting period was complete, the crowd jumped back into the water.

Stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fish related to sharks. According to Wikipedia the species are progressively becoming threatened or vulnerable to extinction.

Video courtesy of Times Live

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