BRITS were ordered out of the water at a beach in Gran Canaria after a hammerhead shark was spotted near swimmers.

       Lifeguards immediately ushered beachgoers onto dry land at the main beach of Las Palmas and planted a purple flag in the sand.

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       Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, was visited by a hammerhead shark Credit: Alamy 4

       Lifeguards raised a purple flag - a very rare occurrence across the Canary Islands

       That's according to Canarian Weekly, who report that an inquisitive hammerhead shark decided to investigate the bathing area of Las Canteras, just 300 metres from Lloret.

       Red Cross divers and swimmers acted quickly and monitored the shark, which fled out to sea when they approached it.

       The hamnmerhead shark is thought to typically be a rather shy animal.

       Nonetheless, lifeguard's were not prepared to take any risk and raised a purple flag - the most unusual to be raised in the Canary Islands.

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       It indicates the presence of dangerous marine life, such as jellyfish or sharks.

       In total, there are six different coloured flags you can see on the beaches of the Canary Islands.

       The other five are green, yellow, red, black and blue.

       A green flag means it's safe to swim, while a yellow flag means swimming is permitted but people must be cautious of conditions.

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       A red flag signals that no swimming is allowed and a black flag means that the beach is closed due to contamination.

       Finally, a blue flag means a quality award, where a beach meets its standards.

       Attacks from sharks across the Canary Islands are extremely rare and there is less than one, on average, every year.

       However, another hammerhead shark sighting in Gran Canaria earlier this summer resulted in the beach being closed.

       Two of the predators were seen off the coast at Patalavaca beach in Mogan, before swimming off peacefully.

       It was just one of many shark sightings off the Spanish coast within a month, with one of those coming near a Malaga beach in July.

       Brit tourists were seen fleeing to shore after they noticed the animal swimming in shallow waters.

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       Lifeguards ensured everyone was brought out of the water and back onto land Credit: Alamy 4

       The shark was said to be within close proximity to people swimming in the sea Credit: EPA