A 1.5-METRE shark caused a commotion at South Beach after being spotted close to shore about 7am on Thursday morning.

“I was there when two ladies came rushing out of the water and yelling for everyone else to get out,” says Fremantle retiree Aurelio Martelli.

He says the dozen or so swimmers who were in the water bolted for safety as the two women described how the shark had been circling between the pontoon and the shore. They were unable to identify the species.

“It’s the first time I have ever heard about a shark being spotted this close to South Beach,” says Mr Martelli.