Beachgoers left stunned after rare sea creature spotted off British coast

Beachgoers were left stunned after they spotted a mysterious creature close to a British shoreline before realising it was a rare fish.

Locals enjoying the beach at St Ives, Cornwall, saw the huge fish swimming close to the surface of the water. The creature, which had a huge disc-shaped body, with flapping fins, caught the attention of onlookers on Sunday.

Breathtaking pictures showed its unique fin bobbing in and out of the waves. The sighting was reported by National Coastwatch St Ives, who tracked the fish from their station. It remained in view for some time before drifting back into deeper water. In related news, a kitesurfer noticed a stick in ocean - then realised something was alive on the end.

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Sunfish, or Mola mola, are among the heaviest bony fish in the world and are rarely seen so close to UK shores. They are well-travelled and have been labelled different names across the world such as “Cut Short” in the Philippines or “Swimming Head” in Germany, reports BBC.

Back in June, a man was left mystified when he spotted an abnormal-sized fish in Poole. He wasn't aware straight away that it was a sunfish. James Short, of Adventure Pirate, explained that he thought it was a shark in the distance.

James said he was "absolutely buzzing to have seen one right here off our coast". He told Bournemouth Echo: "Got a bit closer and the dark top with the white belly had me thinking shark… then I clocked the shape, the odd little bottom fin, and it clicked: sunfish! Massive one too."

James attempted to record the creature but said the video didn't fully give the fish justice. "Just wish I’d been in my dive gear with the GoPro as I’d have been straight in for a swim with it," he said. "Never seen one of these before and I spend loads of time spearfishing around Poole and the Dorset coastline. Apparently they’re super rare!"

It comes after posters began popping up on a British beach warning people not to walk on the sands barefoot during the summer months because of small, venomous creatures.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has put out signs and sent out warnings on social media after weevers were discovered on beaches in the area.

Weevers bury in the sand and have inch-long dorsal spines which will stab anyone who accidentally stands on them - administering a painful sting that may ruin your fun day out. In fact, those who have been struck by weevers say the pain is 'excruciating' and is 10 times worse than being stung by a wasp.

"We are currently putting up posters on noticeboards and sending out social media messages to warn people about the possible risks of stings from weever fish on our beaches," a council spokesperson said. "We are urging people to please not walk barefoot on the sands during the weever fish season, just in case."