Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe May 9 (UPI) -- Visitors to a North Carolina beach rushed out of the water when a shark wandered into the swimming area and swam within feet of the shoreline. A beachgoer recorded video Friday afternoon of the estimated 5-foot shark swimming in the surf at Emerald Isle, which was recently named the top beach in the state. Advertisement The filmer said the shark spent a few minutes exploring the shallow water before swimming back out to sea. OCEARCH researchers said the sighting came after several great white sharks were documented returning to North Carolina waters. It was unclear whether the shark that visited Emerald Isle was a great white. Read More Great white shark's jump out of the ocean caught on camera Huge shark swims up to shore at Hawaii beach Shark knocks surfer into water off Australian coast