Shark hunt closes beaches for sixth day

Beaches in Newcastle, Australia, have been closed for an unprecedented sixth day as the hunt for a great white shark lurking in the coastal waters continues.

The 4.8m shark was first seen on Saturday off Merewether Beach and was last seen off Nobbys Beach on Wednesday afternoon.

Beaches are typically closed in the surfing city of 315,000 people, 160km north of Sydney, four or five times a summer due to shark sightings. Sharks are usually herded away by lifeguards on jet-skis and never seen again.

Newcastle City Council’s Peter Withers said he had never encountered such a large shark or one that had lingered in the area in the 37 years working for the authority.