THE Shoreham Seal is still giving rescuers the slip after being pictured bathing in the sunshine.

The common grey seal hit the headlines earlier this month after joining a member of the Shoreham Rowing Club on his canoe.

But the alarm was raised by a veterinary nurse who said she believed the animal had a fishing line stuck in its throat.

Teams from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) have been trying to capture the seal for a health check.

They thought the animal had been suffering from lungworm as it was pictured foaming from the mouth.

But now the animal charity believes the seal is feeling better,

after several plucky escapes from rescuers.

Gennaro Naddeo from Mile Oak, pictured the seal’s latest escape yesterday afternoon.

The 15-year-old said: “I was sitting on the beach and I could see him on the bank and the rescuers planning how they were going to get near him.

“After about an hour the team started to walk towards him on the left, while the other team walked on the right.

“The seal then started swimming back. I thought maybe he was trying to mind-trick them as he would bob around and then when they got near, he would swim off again.”

Prior to the attempted capture at about 4pm, the seal was filmed jumping on a paddle board.

Despite a seemingly friendly nature and an obvious penchant for boats, the BDMLR is warning people not to get close to the seal.

Seals can become violent if threatened or ill and the charity does not want it to become used to humans.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: “The seal seems like it might have been a pup from last year as he is bigger and stronger than if he was this year’s.

“We have made no proper assessment yet and we’re only relying on information from the public.”

The charity said the seal could still be ill but is probably not as ill as previously thought because it wouldn’t have been able to evade the rescuers.

The spokeswoman said: “To catch it we will need the right medics at the right time.

“Our message to the public is to please stay away from the seal.”