Sighting in Cavalaire-sur-Mer, July 4, 2023

Around 4:25 p.m., the witness was on the beach on holiday when they noticed an elongated shape moving slowly across the sky. Their spouse, son and daughter watched it too, but only the witness filled in a Questionnaire Technique. Photographs of the phenomenon were also sent to the GEIPAN.

The GEIPAN rated the case as having low strangeness and good consistency, since several people saw the object, even though only one account was collected, and several pictures exist. The object was most probably a helium balloon shaped like a shark. Balloons of this kind are sold commercially, and some reach 2 m in length. In summer, by the sea, conditions are well suited to this sort of recreational item. When one of the photos was enlarged, the witness themself confirmed the resemblance to a shark. The object's path was also consistent with the wind direction at the time of the sighting. The case was classified A: helium balloon of the "shark" type.