Shark prank man in the clear

The comedian is to give a written promise not to repeat the stunt

A comedian has been told he will not be prosecuted over the death of a shark after he dived naked into its tank - but he must promise not to do it again.

Guy Venables jumped into the tank at the Sea Life Centre in Brighton, East Sussex, for a £1 bet and to promote a comedy event he was running at the city's Komedia Club.

But two days later a 12-year-old smooth hound shark died of a sudden haemorrhage.

Officials at the centre believed the creature's death could have been caused by the stress of the 35-year-old comedian's minute-long dip.

I've spoken to Guy Venables and asked him to send a written commitment that he won't do anything so silly again

Brighton Sea Life Centre spokeswoman

But tests carried out on the shark by biologists did not offer sufficient proof, a spokeswoman for the centre said on Thursday.

"Tests on the shark proved inconclusive so we won't be prosecuting," she said.

"I've spoken to Guy Venables and asked him to send a written commitment that he won't do anything so silly again - which he has agreed to do."

Mr Venables, from Hove, East Sussex, would have been sued for criminal damage, the spokeswoman said.

But he had been "genuinely remorseful" at the results of his actions, she said.

The remaining 16 sharks in the tank, including another four smooth hound and 10 black tip sharks, are all fit and well.