Eden Lewis, 17, was with her parents and brother when she spotted the tope shark’s body in Llanelli, West Wales.
Eden, of Burry Port, said: “We were walking on the beach doing our daily exercise and came across it.
“We were so shocked. My brother was really excited but it was sad to see what had happened to it.”
She added: “My brother absolutely loves sharks so he was really excited but it was sad to see what had happened to it.”
Topes grow up to 6ft long but are not dangerous.
They can live up to 50 years but aren’t considered a threat to humans and no unprovoked attacks on humans have ever been recorded.
Shark Trust UK said: “The recent strong easterly winds may result in flotsam and jetsam appearing on beaches.”
“Tope are distributed throughout the NE Atlantic including the Welsh coast.
“Historically one of the most widely fished sharks, resulting in population declines – so tope are now subject to restrictions in Welsh waters.
Shark Trust UK added: “Dead sharks do wash up on beaches throughout the year.”
