Fears that a deep sea predator could be lurking in UK waters have been raised after a mutilated dolphin washed up on a beach.
The dead creature was recently discovered with the lower half of its body missing by Joe Noble, 20, when visiting a beach.
It was only a week since what was believed to be Britain's 'first Great White Shark' was spotted in West Sussex and he feared that the mammal he discovered at South Milton Sands beach in Devon could have been its latest victim.
Devon Live reports that Joe said: "At 2.40pm I was walking along the beach and saw something on the sand.
"At first I thought it was a seal and there were plenty of birds surrounding the corpse.
"As I got closer I noticed the flesh wounds in the dolphin and the lack of tail. It was very sea-worn and there were plenty of flesh wounds.
"It was very surprising and shocking and the sight of the dolphin was gruesome."
The sighting on February 16 came just a week after what was believed to be a Great White Shark was pictured lurking off the beach at Goring-by-Sea, near Worthing.
Joe added: "I felt apprehensive given the number of tourists that swim on the beach in the summer."
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