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A 10-foot great white shark was spotted swimming alarmingly close to a group of young swimmers along the Southern California coastline — with the children appearing completely unaware of the predator nearby.The encounter was captured on drone video by Carlos Gauna, a wildlife photographer known as the “Malibu Artist,” who said it was one of the few times he felt genuinely uneasy while observing sharks.”I don’t often get nervous, but this was one of those rare instances where I did,” Gauna wrote on Instagram. “The young swimmers had no idea.”SHARK SIGHTINGS TRIGGER BEACH ALARM AFTER SWIMMER IS BITTEN DURING SUMMER SPIKEThe shark had a large boat propeller strike wound across its back and dorsal fin, Gauna said — which he believes may have affected its behavior.”My observations showed the shark to be rather active,” he wrote, adding that he watched it breach twice in one day. A 10-foot great white shark (not pictured) was spotted swimming alarmingly close to a group of young swimmers along the Southern California coastline. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)”Because of the injury, I don’t know if it’s searching for easier prey or if it’s more alert,” Gauna also wrote. “Either way, this shark does approach humans at a higher frequency. At least by my observations.”The wild video sparked hundreds of comments — with many viewers saying they would immediately leave the water if they noticed a drone hovering overhead.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER”If I’m swimming and see a drone over me, I’m out of there,” one user commented.Others said the footage showed that great white sharks often investigate people without attacking. The children shown in the video (not pictured) were completely unaware that the shark was nearby — and it eventually turned away. (iStock)”It just proves they aren’t interested in us,” one viewer wrote. “It went to see what the splashing was and turned away. It still had my heart racing, though.”Several commenters also suggested that beachgoers should be alerted when sharks are spotted nearby, with some proposing warning lights or audible signals to help swimmers safely exit the water.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESFox News Digital previously reported that shark experts have urged beachgoers to stay alert this summer as sightings increased along several U.S. coastlines. Several commenters suggested that beachgoers should be alerted when sharks are spotted nearby. (iStock)Marine biologist Mike Heithaus of Florida International University told Fox News Digital that shark bites remain unusual, even during the busy summer beach season.CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP”People should always be aware of local conditions and listen to lifeguards, but shark bites are very rare,” he emphasized. The shark encounter was captured on drone video by a videographer. (iStock)He recommended that people avoid murky water, that they stay away from areas where large schools of fish are visible and that they avoid places where other people are actively fishing. Kelly McGreal is a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
