A MYSTERIOUS alien shark only ever seen in the depths of the ocean has been spotted prowling off the coast of Gran Canaria.

The horror sighting left local fishermen stunned as the giant goblin shark flashed his razor sharp teeth.

Shocking footage showed the shark lurking in the water before it flashed its teeth.

The creature was spotted by local fishermen Marcos Hernández and Ramón Santana.

The pair were hunting for hake and deep water perch at a depth of around 900 metres when they spotted the shark.

Marcos said that neither he nor Ramón had any idea what it was when they first spotted the goblin shark.

Marcos said: “When it came up, we had no idea what it was.

“At first, we thought it was a swordfish because of the snout but then we realised it wasn’t.

“It had leathery skin and after looking online, we understood what it really was.”

The fishermen captured the goblin shark to take a closer look before releasing it back into the ocean.

The terrifying creature was spotted off the coast of San Cristóbal in Gran Canaria, Spain.

According to local press, this is the first confirmed sighting of this species in these particular waters.

Goblin sharks are also known as Mitsukurina owstonis.

The beast is often referred to as a “living fossil” – best known for its protrusible jaw and elongated beak.

This comes as a 40-year-old man was torn apart by sharks near Hadera in Israel in April.

The beach famously attracts sharks, and people often play with the animals – even pulling their tails and hand-feeding them fish.

Footage from the beach shows parents allowing their kids to paddle amongst the creatures moments before the fatal frenzy.

Beach-goers could do nothing but watch as the swimmer was ripped apart in the waves – with harrowing footage capturing the moment the water around him foams red with blood.

Experts have urged holidaymakers visiting these spots to be vigilant, and outlined how to stay safe in the water.