Rottnest shark sighting: Lifeguards close The Basin and Pinky’s Beach after spotting a shark

Lifeguards have closed two popular beaches at Rottnest Island after a shark was spotted.

According to Life Saving WA, The Basin and Pinky’s Beach was closed after a shark was seen in the area on Monday afternoon.

Dylan Easter, who was at the The Basin, told The West Australian: “We were just swimming and then the helicopter starting circling around and then a couple of minutes later they starting playing an alarm on their megaphone and then the lifeguards got everyone out of the water.”

It is understood the shark was a 3.5 tiger shark and that the beaches will be shut until 4pm.

The beach closure was announced just minutes after Smiths Beach in Yallingup was also closed due to a shark sighting.

Thousands of people have flocked to WA’s beaches to escape the heat for the school holidays.