An investigation is expected to follow after a 2.6m great white shark washed ashore at an Adelaide beach on Monday morning.

The 10-year-old male shark was still alive when it was discovered struggling to breathe in the shallow waters at Henley Beach South.

Bystanders quickly stepped in to try to guide the animal back into deeper water, despite the potential danger posed by the large predator.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

Fisheries officers arrived shortly after, but despite the combined efforts of officials and the public, the shark died on the beach.

The death marks the fourth shark fatality along Adelaide’s coastline in recent weeks, raising concerns among scientists and authorities.

Dr Michael Drew, a senior research scientist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), said a necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

“We’re yet to understand why it’s died,” he told 7NEWS.

“Once we’ve dissected the animal and got the results back from pathology, we might have a clearer understanding.”

While some have speculated the shark may be ‘Brucey’ — a well-known great white frequently spotted along the South Australian coast — www.20304050.best understands this has not been confirmed.

The shark’s body has been removed from the beach and taken for examination.