Swimmers in Olbia, Sardinia, last weekend saved a shark by unhooking a fishing line in which the fish had been trapped, Italian media report.

The small shark was spotted by swimmers just metres from the shore. Most of them retreated out of the water, but it was soon realised that the shark was hooked to a fishing line.

The shark was dragged to the sandy beach and while it was immobilised, someone was brave enough to extract the hook from the shark’s cheek.

The shark is then let off into the sea.