CAVALAIRE-SUR-MER (83) 04.07.2023

Around 16:25 on 4 July 2023, a holidaymaker, T1, on the beach at Cavalaire-sur-Mer (83) saw an elongated form move slowly and straight across the sky. His wife, son and daughter also watched, but only T1 completed a technical questionnaire. Photographs were sent to GEIPAN. GEIPAN assessed the case as low in strangeness with good evidential support from several observers, 1 account and several photographs. It defines evidential strength as the quantity of information considered reliable that is collected for an account. The investigation identified a helium balloon, very probably shark-shaped; see the investigation note. An internet search found such balloons sold in lengths up to 2 m. Summer seaside conditions also favoured this recreational use. T1 confirmed the shark resemblance when a photograph was enlarged, and the trajectory matched the wind direction. GEIPAN classified the case A: a shark-shaped helium balloon.