PROVINCETOWN, Mass., Oct. 30 (UPI) -- A large blue shark that washed up on a Massachusetts beach and regurgitated its own stomach has hope of survival thanks to some quick help from the public.

The Center for Coastal Studies said the 6-to-7-foot blue shark was found on a Provincetown beach Tuesday morning and it appeared to have regurgitated its stomach, which the center described as "a relatively common stress reaction."


Residents used buckets to pour water on the shark while plans to tow the predator back into the water were finalized.

Harbormaster Rex McKinsey, who contacted the Center for Coastal Studies, was among those organizing the rescue.

"[CCS] told me, 'If you could ease the stomach back into the mouth, that would be good.' Well, that sounded pretty dangerous to do by hand, so a cane was employed," he told the Dodo.

Blue shark stranded in Provincetown Harbor. Regurgitated stomach visible on bottom left. CCS image. Posted by Center for Coastal Studies on Tuesday, October 27, 2015

McKinsey identified the shark as a female, but Charles Mayo, a senior scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies, said the fish appeared to be a male.

McKinsey and Mayo were able to tow the shark back out into the water, where it swam away.

Preparing to move the shark into the shallows. Provincetown Harbormaster Rex McKinsey in the yellow jacket, Scott Landry to his right. Volunteer Lane keeps the shark wet. CCS image. Posted by Center for Coastal Studies on Tuesday, October 27, 2015

"It swam, but my guess is it's probably not going to do very well. It's probably been on the beach for too long," Mayo told the Boston Globe. "But we've given it as much hope as we can, so we'll see."

McKinsey said he was more hopeful about the shark's prospects after 48 hours passed without the predator washing back up on shore.