WATCH:Shark scare at Salt Rock Beach

It was like a scene straight out of Jaws that played out at Salt Rock Beach, north of Durban on Sunday. 

A shrill whistle from an attentive lifeguard followed by frantic hand action to scores of swimmers enjoying the sea to get out of the surf as someone spotted what looked like fins on the shoreline.

Panic set in quickly as swimmers raced out of the surf as the fins swam into vision and people started shouting "shark".

Another lifeguard paddled into the water to reach swimmers beyond the shoreline as the dark shadows came closer.

"There's two of them" one beach goer observed while another claimed it was "baby sharks".

However the lifeguard assured the group of people that it was either manta rays or sting rays, which also have fins.

"The sting rays have a nasty sting which is why we asked the swimmers to leave the surf," he added.

Once the rays - both of which are classified in the sharks family - swam past, the crowd jumped back into the water.

TMG Digital/The Times