Great White washes ashore on Mass. beach

WESTPORT, Mass. (WWLP) - Beaches in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island will be closed this holiday weekend because of a great white shark.

The shark washed up on Goosewing Beach in Westport, Mass, which is right on the Rhode Island state line.

A fisherman spotted what he initially believed was driftwood.

A closer look showed it was a shark.

Officials from Mystic Aquarium confirmed it was a 13 foot great white shark.

"My theory behind this is, with Westport Harbor right behind us, it was probably a fisherman that had it caught in gill nets and had cut it loose and it drifted in. We haven't seen any evidence of sharks here all summer,” said Jim Farrell.

Little Compton and Goosewing beaches were closed to swimmers as a precaution.