Marco Island beachgoers stunned by 12-foot tiger shark sighting

MARCO ISLAND - A massive tiger shark washed ashore on Marco Island, drawing crowds and plenty of curiosity.

Beachgoers were surprised to find the 12-foot shark on the beach, prompting a response from the Marco Island Police Department and Florida Fish and Wildlife officials.

Witnesses like Diane Godden were thrilled by the sight.

"Like 'gasp', oh my god, this is like beyond exciting," said Godden. "I saw like this fin going back and forth in the water."

Luke Kriegel shared his experience, saying, "We said 'Oh wow', we got the binoculars out and in fact it was a shark so we came down here and it had moved over and there was a frenzy of people and it was about a 12-foot tiger shark."

Some witnesses noted the shark appeared to be alive for a short time after washing ashore.

Brooke Kriegel said, "They said it was alive for a little bit and then you could see it was bleeding from its tail."

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers and the Marco Island Police Department responded, using heavy equipment to remove the shark. Police later confirmed on social media that the shark was deceased.

Brooke Kriegel described the scene, saying, "They have a bunch of trucks out here. The forklift came and picked it up and put it into another blue substance car."

For families like the Kriegels, it was an unforgettable wildlife encounter.

"He's a big shark guy. He knows all the sharks, believe it or not," said Luke Kriegel. "So, you know, seeing it and seeing it up close and personal, it was really cool for him."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating how the shark died. The Marco Island Police Department reminded the public that shore-based shark fishing is legal with a permit, which they do check.