What started as a beautiful family day at the beach in Melbourne took a spine-chilling turn after one family noticed something terrifying lurking in the background of their photo.

The picture, snapped at Carrum Beach, showed a dad and his young daughter happily waving at the camera — completely unaware of what was behind them.

Quickly spread online

It wasn’t until they got home and looked closer that they spotted a strange shape rising from the water just a few feet away.

The unsettling photo quickly spread online back in 2023, sparking heated debate over what the mysterious figure could be — a shark, or just a trick of the waves?

And now, years later, it’s gone viral on social media again.

According to local authorities at the time, the timing was no coincidence. On the same day, SES Chelsea had warned beachgoers about a shark sighting in the area.

In a Facebook post, they wrote:

“We posted about a shark sighting, just off the beach, between Bonbeach and Chelsea. Well later, we received a message from a family, who follow our page, who were at Carrum Beach earlier in the morning.”

They continued:

“It was their little one’s first visit to the beach, and the gentleman’s partner grabbed a couple of snaps to record the day.
Later, when they got home and looked at the pictures, they noticed something in the shallow water, just behind them. Was this our shark?”

The post immediately blew up, with social media users divided over what they saw.

One person wrote: “Couldn’t be a very big one, given the size of the dog and the depth of the water.”

Another added: “Looks a bit shallow for a shark that would have a fin that size, judging by where the dog and guy to the left are standing. Wouldn’t the other guy behind them have noticed?”

And a third commented: “I agree that it can’t be discounted – but it’s highly unlikely that a shark cruising in the shallows would not be seen and those in the photo not aware.”

Another theory

According to the Victoria Fisheries Authority (VFA), the strange figure spotted in the photo could not be confirmed by either Life Saving Victoria or the VFA.

However, Professor Charlie Huveneers, Research Leader of the Southern Shark Ecology Group, offered a more down-to-earth explanation — he believes the “shark” was actually a stingray.

“The quality of the photo makes it hard to be certain,” he told Yahoo News Australia. “But judging by the shape, it doesn’t look like a shark’s dorsal fin. It’s more likely the wing of a Southern Eagle Ray, which are commonly seen in shallow waters and along beaches.”

The Southern Eagle Ray, considered near threatened, is native to southern Australian waters and can sometimes be spotted around New Zealand as well.

The chilling discovery came just days after another shark sighting off Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide, where fishermen captured footage of a massive great white circling their boat, estimated to be around 13 feet long.

Authorities have since reminded beachgoers to stay alert, as the debate over what really appeared in that family photo continues to stir curiosity — and goosebumps — across Australia.