Swimmers down at Exiles in Sliema yesterday seemed to believe the claim of windsurfer David Bonavia – that he was circled by a shark on Saturday off Fort St Elmo and it bit his sail. Perhaps worried by a separate sighting of a big fish off Exiles that same day, they told Nikki Abela Mercieca that the police should have raised the alarm, although most were not put off from taking a dip.

Derek Chircop, 51, from St Julians said the story was quite believable but it would not stop him from swimming. He could not understand why the police did not issue a warning about the sighting, and wondered if they thought it was not a real story. However, he said, anything was possible. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli

Francesca Farrugia, 32, from Sliema felt the story was not farfetched, given the fact Malta was the breeding ground for great whites. This did not deter her from swimming: “I’m going down right now.” She, however, thought the police should have issued a statement when the report was filed.

Sarah Attard, 25, from Mellieħa, and Stefan Sammut, 26, from Birkirkara, believed the story but it did not worry them as they would not venture far out when swimming, where they thought big fish posed a greater risk. They too thought the police should have “secured our security” by issuing a warning.

Ben Grech, 32, who lives abroad, said he “half heartedly” believed Mr Bonavia’s story as he read the shark expert’s opinion and agreed the story was a tough one to swallow. It definitely stopped him from swimming, and he felt “indifferent” to the fact the police had not issued a warning.

Matthew Coppini, 23, from St Julians, felt there was “no reason” for him not to believe the shark attack story. He felt less secure in the water after the incident but it would not stop him from swimming. He felt the police could have done more to ensure the safety of the swimmers.

Maureen Mc Fadden, 60, from Scotland, found the shark incident scary but true, even though she thought it might have been exaggerated. She would not go too far out at sea but it would not stop her from swimming. She said there had been some logic behind the police not issuing a statement.