Beachgoers were given a fright after a bull shark was spotted stalking the shore line in shallow waters off La Perouse beach.
A video filmed by Aymen Elrashid and posted to Facebook yesterday, shows the estimated two-metre shark swimming just metres away from children and onlookers, who hastily exited the water.
Mr Elrashid said the shark was "on the sand literally".
He told 9news.com.au he first saw the shark around 5pm yesterday and immediately got out of the water.
Sydney beaches were teeming with people yesterday, with the mercury topping 35 degrees.