River Thames sharks

Jaws in the Thames? Shark Spotted Swimming Near Hammersmith!

Watch out, London! Is that a shark lurking in the Thames? This TikTok video has gone viral – and we can see why!

In a scene straight out of a horror film, Londoners were recently left gaping as a potential shark was spotted swimming in the River Thames! TikTok user Charlotte Webb, 25, and her friend Olivia Kaliszewska were innocently strolling by Hammersmith Bridge when they caught a glimpse of something unusual in the water. "Is that really a shark fin?" was the question on everyone’s lips after footage was shared by Webb, leading to speculation that the plot of Netflix's new horror film, "Under Paris," was manifesting itself right before our eyes.

The clip shows a fin gliding through the Thames waters, sparking immediate reactions from locals baffled by this apparent aquatic invasion. As the video gained traction on social media, the eerie details became fuel for the nightmare scenario many feared – and we’re not just talking about finding a sea creature where it shouldn’t be! Charlotte recounted feeling a mix of disbelief and trepidation, saying she might just skip any future dips in the Thames after witnessing the startling event. “I’m never going in the water again,” she declared, channeling her inner shark-phobe like a true protagonist in an aquatic thriller.

Among the chaos, TikTok users weighed in with both disbelief and a honk of horror, contemplating whether this mythic shark sighting signified the start of more bizarre occurrences in London’s waterways. While sharks in the Thames are rare – even more so when thinking about the pristine puddles recent trends on social media have depicted – incidents like this definitely keep us on our toes. And let’s not forget, with the right lighting and a decent pinch of imagination, how many filmy do moments feel more like a scene from a cinema horror than a day out in the real world?

In case you’re wondering, sharks are typically not found in the Thames due to the river's high pollution levels and changing salinity. However, some species, like the bull shark, have been known to adapt to freshwater – as if the River Thames wasn’t bizarre enough! So whether it was a trick of the light or the shadows of an undiscovered sea creature, we’ll just have to wait for further reports before rating our chances of bumping into a shark while larking about in the London waters.