A mum was ‘thankful’ after spotting a shark hunting a stingray in waves just metres from where her two-year-old had been playing.

Katy Albright and her family were enjoying a day at the beach in Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA, on September 5 when they spotted a family rushing out of the shallows they’d just been stood in.

Wild footage showed the reason as what is believed to be a lemon shark thrashed around in the spray as it desperately chased down a meal.

While Katy, 30, watched on the shark’s dorsal fins could be seen clearly bursting out of the surface as it continued its manic hunt for the ‘giant’ stingray.

Katy said: “I was a little afraid since my two-year-old was just in the water where the shark was hunting. I was thankful we were on shore by that time.

“We had just gotten out of the water when I noticed the family next to us rushing out as well. Then we all immediately saw the shark chasing and attacking a giant stingray along the shore.

“That being said, it was amazing to see up close. They were close enough to the shore that we could have easily touched the shark.

“I thought the shark might end up stuck on the shore. It was black and at least six-foot-long.

“We love going to vacation on Hilton Head every year but have never ever seen anything like this before.”