“Something Is Going On in the Sea”: Rare Megamouth Shark Washes Up at St Helena Bay Harbour in Video
- A rarely seen megamouth shark was recovered from St Helena Bay harbour on 24 August 2026
- Workers used heavy machinery to lift the massive carcass at a coastal salvage yard
- South Africans online raised concerns about what the discovery could mean for ocean health
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A massive and rarely seen megamouth shark washed up at St Helena Bay harbour on 24 August 2026. A video shared by Facebook user Weslander showed workers in casual clothing using heavy straps and machinery to hoist the enormous carcass at what appeared to be a coastal salvage yard.
Source: UGC
The megamouth shark is one of the ocean's most elusive creatures. First discovered in 1976, fewer than 300 confirmed sightings have ever been recorded worldwide, making its appearance on the South African West Coast a significant and unsettling event.
The footage by Weslander, captured in a documentary-style handheld video, showed the full scale of the animal as it hung suspended from industrial equipment. The tone was sombre and matter-of-fact, with no dramatic narration, yet the sheer size of the creature was enough to stop viewers in their tracks. Watch the megamouth shark recovery at St Helena Bay:
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SA stunned by megamouth shark
The video quickly gained traction online, with many South Africans wondering whether the discovery was an isolated incident or a sign of something larger.
Pippa Yates asked:
"I wonder if this has anything to do with the thousands of sardines washing up on the West Coast."
Kazie Sali shared the concern, writing:
"Something is definitely going on in the sea. Is government monitoring this??"
Juanika Fritz (translated from Afrikaans) said:
"Say SCARY!!! We don't know what ELSE is swimming around in the deep sea."
Zakariyya Landsman lightened the mood with:
"Lekker Vis braai for two weeks!"
Susan Holdsworth joked:
"So that is where my ex-mother-in-law landed up?"
Ben Botha added (translated from Afrikaans):
"Looks a little like big mouth Fadiel Adams to me, but he is already caught - hook, line and sinker!"
Other Briefly News stories about animals
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- A crocodile in South Africa was euthanised, which ignited a fiery debate across social media regarding wildlife conservation versus human safety.
- There is an alarming decline in the elephant population at Kruger National Park, with 951 elephants reported dead between 2020 and 2025.
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Source: Briefly News
