UPDATE: SURVIVOR favourites Locky Gilbert and Sarah Tilleke were part of a Channel 10 team forced out of the water at today’s Rottnest Channel Swim because of a shark sighting.
Gilbert, who was competing for the first time, said he was in the water when a call came over the radio to abandon the swim because a great white shark had been sighted within 1km of the team.
He said the team was just past the 12km mark.
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READ NOWEARLIER: A GREAT white shark sighting has ended the Rottnest Channel Swim for more than 100 competitors this morning.
The shark was spotted at the 12km mark of the race about 8km from Rottnest.
Rottnest Channel Swim protocol requires any swimmers within 1km of a sighted shark to get out of the water, ending their channel attempt.
About 100 boats supporting solo, duo and team competitors were forced to abandon the race that has a field of 2600 this year.
The shark was last seen heading north.