Wharton Beach: Eerie footage of large shark swimming at same location one year before Steven Payne killed

Terrifying footage has emerged of a large shark swimming close to swimmers at Wharton Beach one year before a surfer was killed in the same waters.

The video obtained by PerthNow was filmed on March 17 last year and shows a large shark swimming in the blue shallow water as cautious beachgoers watched from the shore.

The shark’s dark shadow then moves along the waterline with one woman seen running towards it to get a closer look.

Someone standing next to the person filming the video was heard saying “Did you get it?”

The eerie footage emerged just days after 37-year-old Geelong surfer Steve Payne was fatally mauled in chest-deep water on March 10.

Payne was just five weeks into a six-month caravan holiday with his partner and dog when he was attacked by what is believed to have been a great white at Wharton Beach just after midday.

He was attacked 50m from the shore with his loving partner watching on in horror from the sand.

A search for Mr Payne was launched after reports came in that he was missing but it was suspended on Wednesday following no sign of the avid adventurer’s body.

The Shire of Esperance reopened the beach in the days after the attack.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development urged locals and visitors to the area to take additional caution.