Great white sharks spotted next to US swimmers

A school of great white sharks have surrounded a group of US paddle boarders as a police helicopter crew urged them to get out of the water.

The swimmers were wading off the Southern Californian coastline in Orange County yesterday when a sheriff's department helicopter began buzzing overhead.

Surveillance taken from the sky showed a school of more than 15 sharks making their way towards the surf line.

Deputy Brian Stockbridge used the aircraft's PA to inform the swimmers of the impending danger.

"You are paddle boarding next to approximately 15 great white sharks," Stockbridge said.

"They (the State Parks department) are advising you exit the water in a calm manner. The sharks are as close as the surf line."

Shark warnings were already in place for the region.