Shark Sighting Sparks Panic in London as TikTok Users Compare it to Horror Film

A recent shark sighting in the River Thames has caused quite a stir among locals and social media users alike. Charlotte Webb, 25, was enjoying a walk near Hammersmith Bridge when she and her friend, Olivia Kaliszewska, spotted what looked like a fin cutting through the water.

Initially, Ms. Webb thought it might be a bean bag floating by, but upon closer inspection, they realized it was a fin of a marine creature. “I had no idea sharks swam in the Thames!” she exclaimed. This unexpected discovery has made waves online, especially with the release of the horror film *Under Paris*, which features a shark terrorizing the French capital.

The film, directed by Xavier Gens, revolves around a marine biologist named Sophia, played by Bérénice Bejo, who battles to find a shark lurking in the Seine. After catching the attention of TikTok users, some have begun to draw parallels between the movie and the real-life sighting in London.

Ms. Webb reported that the creature appeared to be about 5 feet long, which experts believe might indicate it was a tope shark. These sharks are classified as critically endangered but are known to be harmless to humans. The long and slender sharks have been found across UK coasts but are more common in the South and West.

The burst of concern online included comments like, “That’s fine. The sharks can have it,” highlighting the increased anxiety about swimming in the Thames. Some viewers outright compared the situation to scenes from *Under Paris*, declaring that the film was a warning about what could happen.

In support of the discovery, a spokesperson for the London Wildlife Trust praised the sighting as a rare occurrence of one of the small, endangered sharks that inhabit the tidal Thames. Meanwhile, a zoological study had previously confirmed that various species of sharks, including tope and smooth hound, can be found in the river.