A group of holidaymakers and lifesavers in the Dominican Republic have outraged animal welfare groups by pulling a shark out of the water and letting it die while they took selfies.

Video taken on June 14 showed a group of men armed with rope and nets charge into the water and surround a blue shark swimming in the shallows.

The distressed predator was hauled onto the sand where the group immediately started parading with it for selfies while the shark slowly suffocated.

Shark dies after being pulled out of the ocean. (Source: Facebook)

Lifesavers from the nearby Hard Rock Hotel & Casino approached the group, however they did stop the narcissistic scene but instead joined in the celebration.

By the time the group had finished taking their photos the shark was dead.

Animal rights groups took to social media to express their disgust with the tourists and lifesavers.

The removal of marine life from the ocean is becoming a disturbing international trend.

In February this year a group of tourists off the coast of Argentina captured a rare La Plata dolphin and dragged it ashore to take photos before leaving it to die on the sand.