Incredible footage taken on a drone camera has revealed a massive shark washed up on the shoreline of Cornwall.

The 25ft monster was seen floating belly-side up near the rocks at Chapel Point in Mevagissey.

Marine experts believe it to be a basking shark, the second biggest fish in the world and the largest found in British waters.

The impressive specimen was spotted by Matthew Facey, who was photographing the Cornish coastline on Sunday.

The impressive specimen was spotted by Matthew Facey, who was photographing the Cornish coastline on Sunday

The 25ft monster was seen floating belly-side up near the rocks at Chapel Point in Mevagissey

Volunteers from the Marine Strandings Network at Cornwall Wildlife Trust have been sent to the scene to assess the giant animal, confirm what species it is and find out more.

Niki Clear from the Marine Strandings Network said: ‘The shark was reported to us early last night.

‘We didn’t want to send anyone down there at night, so we decided to hold off until today and cross our fingers that it was still there.

‘Once our team of volunteers get to the shark, they will try to take measurements of its length and fins etc. and make sure to take plenty of photographs of it.

‘Sadly this one is quite decomposed already.

‘But all the information helps us analyse it and learn more about basking sharks.’

The video below shows the huge animal sadly washed up by the rocks at Chapel Point.

Ms Clear said that if the team confirm the dead shark is a basking shark it will be a ‘rare opportunity’ for study, as the creatures don’t often wash up.

She added: ‘Once the team have confirmed it is a basking shark, and finished all analysis, they will contact Exeter University and Plymouth University to see if any samples are needed.

‘They are an extremely interesting species to study.

‘Because basking sharks only eat plankton, they can help to show the overall marine health.

‘This part of the world is a hotspot for basking sharks, but when they die, their carcasses sink, so they don’t often wash up. This means that this is a very rare opportunity for us.’

A number of the gentle giants have already been spotted around Cornwall this year, and Ms Clear said that April and May are the best months to spot the amazing creatures.

She added: ‘We are just at the beginning of the season at the moment. A few have already been spotted off Cornwall, we have had sightings from the Lizard and Mounts Bay.

Marine experts believe it to be a basking shark, the second biggest fish in the world and the largest found in British waters

‘The best time to see basking sharks is between April and May, after that they move north. We do sometimes get to see a few at the end of September as well.

‘The last couple of years have been quite poor for basking shark sightings, so hopefully the sightings so far are a good sign.

‘It all depends on where the food is as to when and where you will be able to see them.’

It is hoped that more sightings will be reported to help Cornwall Wildlife Trust research the amazing animals that call Cornwall home.

Basking sharks are the largest fish in British waters, reaching lengths of up to 40ft, and have been protected from fishing since 1998

Regions of Britain known as basking shark hotspots include the South West of England, the Isle of Man and the west coast of Scotland.

Basking sharks are the largest fish in British waters, reaching lengths of up to 40ft, and have been protected from fishing since 1998.

Known as ‘gentle giants’, they are one of only three plankton-feeding shark species and generally appear off Britain spring and summer.