Quck answer
Sharks are fascinating creatures, but their attacks on humans can be deadly. Here are ten of the most shocking shark attack stories:
1. Bethany Hamilton – a young surfer lost her arm in a shark attack but continued to surf professionally.
2. Rodney Fox – a shark attack survivor who went on to become a shark conservationist.
3. Mick Fanning – a professional surfer who fought off a shark during a competition.
4. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell – a survivor of a shark attack during a mission in Afghanistan.
5. Brook Watson – a young boy who survived a shark attack in the 1700s and went on to become a successful businessman.
6. Terri Cartwright – a woman who lost her leg in a shark attack while on vacation in the Bahamas.
7. Ernie Polk – a man who survived a shark attack in Florida and later became an advocate for shark conservation.
8. Mike Coots – a surfer who lost his leg in a shark attack and now advocates for shark conservation and education.
9. Bethany Williams – a young girl who survived a shark attack in the Bahamas and went on to become a nurse.
10. Rodney Gist – a man who survived a shark attack while fishing in Texas and later became an advocate for shark conservation.
Wild Animals
The movie “Jaws” directed by Steven Spielberg was released in 1975 and became a worldwide hit. The movie, based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, follows the story of a great white shark that terrorizes the fictional beach resort town of Amity Island. However, not everyone knows that Benchley’s novel was inspired by a real set of shark attacks on the beach communities of New Jersey in 1916. This story is number two on our list of top 10 shark attack stories. In this article, we will take a closer look at this and eight other stories that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
10. Brook Watson
The most renowned painter in Colonial America, John Singleton Copley, painted “Watson and the Shark,” which depicts a young boy trying to escape a shark attack. The painting is based on an actual shark attack from 1749 of Brook Watson, a 14-year-old crew member of a trading ship docked in Havana, Cuba. Watson lost his foot in the attack and later had his leg amputated below the knee. However, he went on to lead a full life, serving in the House of Parliament for nine years and becoming the Lord Mayor of London. He was also the first known shark-attack survivor.
9. Barry Wilson
South African Barry Wilson was attacked by a great white shark while surfing off the coast of South Africa. He was able to fend off the shark with his surfboard, but not before it had bitten both his legs. Wilson was rescued and taken to a hospital, where he received over 300 stitches. He was able to recover and continues to surf to this day.
Barry Wilson was the first recorded shark attack victim in California history. On December 7, 1952, the 17-year-old tuba player was swimming with a friend about 40 feet from shore in roughly 30 feet of water when he was attacked by a shark near Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove, California. Witnesses saw the shark attack Wilson from the front, lifting him completely out of the water to his knees. Wilson died due to severe wounds on his left leg, right thigh, back, and buttocks. Robert Pamperin, on the other hand, may have been completely devoured by a giant great white shark. Pamperin and his diving partner, Gerald Lehrer, were diving for abalone off the coast of San Diego, California in 1959 when Lehrer heard Pamperin scream for help. Lehrer saw Pamperin in the mouth of a gigantic shark that he estimated to be more than 22 feet long. Lehrer swam to shore and alerted the life guards, but scuba divers only found a single swim fin and Pamperin’s inner tube. Omar Conger was another victim of a shark attack in California. In 1984, Conger and his diving partner were hunting for abalone near Santa Cruz when a huge great white shark grabbed Conger and pulled him under. The shark released Conger when he was close to his diving partner.
Rehm saved his friend from a shark attack but unfortunately, Conger had already died due to excessive blood loss. The shark was estimated to be around 16 feet long. Within two weeks, there were three more shark attacks, but all the victims survived. Bethany Hamilton, a top surfer from Hawaii, lost her arm in a shark attack but survived and returned to surfing within a month. Despite her injury, she refused special treatment and won her first national title in 2005. Randy Fry was free-diving for abalone when he was attacked by a great white shark and unfortunately lost his life. Henri Bource was another victim of a shark attack. The details of his story are on the next page.
Henri Bource’s shark attack in 1964 off Lady Julia Percy Island in Australia was captured on film. While playing with seals in the ocean, Bource and two other divers encountered a great white shark that attacked Bource and took off his leg. Bource’s diving partners managed to get him back on the boat, and he was able to radio ahead to shore about his blood type. Bource tried to free his leg by jamming his hand down the shark’s throat and gouging its eyes. Later, he used the original film footage to reconstruct the attack for a documentary called “Savage Shadows.” The USS Indianapolis, a U.S. Navy cruiser, was sunk near Guam on July 30, 1945, and approximately 900 sailors were left stranded in the water with only their life vests. When the sharks appeared the following morning, the crew was helpless against them. Only 317 out of the 900 survived, making it the worst maritime disaster in U.S. Navy history. In the Matawan Creek attacks in New Jersey in 1916, a 10-foot (3-meter) shark was spotted swimming in the shallow waters of the creek. Locals initially thought it was caught up in the panic of recent attacks off the Jersey shore.
A 12-year-old boy named Lester Stillwell was the first person to fall victim to a shark attack. While swimming with friends, the shark took him from below and carried him under. The locals searched for the shark for revenge, but it attacked again. Watson Fisher was one of the men who fought against the shark and managed to break free. However, he lost the flesh from his right leg. Fisher died within hours, becoming the second victim within an hour. A half-mile downstream, teenager Joseph Dunn was also attacked, but his friends managed to save him. Two days later, a great white shark was caught, which contained 15 pounds of human flesh and bone.
For more details on the granddaddy of all shark attack stories, please turn to the next page.
1. Rodney Fox
Rodney Fox probably wishes he had seen a sign like this one.
Scoop/Getty Images
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Rodney Fox is the most well-known shark attack survivor in history because of the severity of his injuries and the fact that he lived. On December 8, 1963, Fox was defending his Australian spear-fishing championship when a great white shark grabbed him around the middle and took him for a ride. He was upside down, trying to gouge the shark’s eyes. The shark released him but came back for more. Fox jammed his arm down the shark’s throat, ripping off the flesh. The shark released him again and dragged him along the ocean floor. Fox was rescued and taken into a nearby boat, where his bones were visible on his right hand and arm. After nearly drowning, he arrived at the hospital within an hour of the attack. His main arteries remained intact, and after four hours of surgery and 360 stitches, Fox survived.
For more information on sharks and the ocean, please refer to the links on the following page.
Additional Information
Related Articles on HowStuffWorks
- Understanding Sharks
- Exploring Shark Attacks
- Learning About Great White Sharks
- Causes of Shark Feeding Frenzies
- Shark Senses: Sight, Smell, and Hearing
- Discovering Bull Sharks
- Reasons for Collecting Shark Teeth
- Examining Tiger Sharks
- Sleep Habits of Whales and Dolphins
- Why We Can’t Breathe Underwater
- Geography of the Oceans
- How Scuba Diving Works
- Inside the Georgia Aquarium
- Causes of “The Bends”
- The Risks of Breathing Pure Oxygen
- Understanding Ear Popping While Diving
- Mechanics of Fish Movement in Water
- Animal Camouflage Techniques
- Methods of Deep-Sea Rescue
- Curiosity Project: Marine Life Photography
More Useful Links
- Discovery Channel’s Shark Guide
- Rodney Fox’s Website
- National Wildlife Federation
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Ocean Conservancy
Sources
- “Bethany’s General Biography.” bethanyhamilton.com, 2008. http://www.bethanyhamilton.com/
- “Great White Shark Attack News Articles.” jawshark.com, 2008. http://www.jawshark.com/great_white_shark_news_articles_us.html
- “Jaws.” imdb.com, 2008. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/
- “Rodney Fox Biography.” rodneyfox.com, 2008. http://www.rodneyfox.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=51
- “The Red Triangle & California.” greatwhite.org, 2008. http://greatwhite.org/frame_attack.htm
- “Unprovoked White Shark Attacks on Divers.” The Shark Research Committee, 2008. http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/unprovoked_diver.htm
- boxofficemojo.com, 2008. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=jaws.htm
- Capuzzo, Michael. “Close to Shore: A True Story of Terror in an Age of Innocence.” Bradway Publishers, 2001.
- MacCormick, Alice. “Shark Attacks.” St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
- May, Nathaniel. “Shark: Stories of Life and Death from the World’s Most Dangerous Waters.” Thunders Mouth Press, 2002.
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2008. http://www.mfa.org/collections/search_art.asp?recview=true&id=30998&coll_keywords=&coll_accession=&coll_name=&coll_artist=&coll_place=&coll_medium=&coll_culture=&coll_classification=&coll_credit=&coll_provenance=&coll_location=&coll_has_images=&coll_on_view=&coll_sort=0&coll_sort_order=0&coll_view=0&coll_package=36011&coll_start=1
- ussindianapolis.org, 2008. http://www.ussindianapolis.org/story.htm
FAQ
1. What is the deadliest shark attack in history?
The deadliest shark attack in history occurred during World War II, when the USS Indianapolis was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the Pacific Ocean. Survivors were left stranded in the open ocean, and many were killed by sharks over the course of four days before rescue arrived. It is estimated that 150 of the 900 crew members lost their lives to shark attacks.
2. What is the most recent fatal shark attack?
The most recent fatal shark attack occurred in May 2021, off the coast of California. A woman was killed while swimming in the ocean, and her body was recovered with significant bite marks believed to be from a great white shark.
3. How often do shark attacks occur?
Shark attacks are relatively rare, with an average of 80 attacks per year worldwide. However, the number of attacks has been increasing over the past few decades, likely due to increased human activity in the ocean and changes in shark behavior.
4. What is the most dangerous type of shark?
The most dangerous type of shark is often considered to be the great white shark, due to its size, strength, and aggressive nature. However, it is important to note that most shark species are not dangerous to humans and that attacks are rare.
5. What should you do if you encounter a shark?
If you encounter a shark, it is important to remain calm and avoid making sudden movements. Do not swim away quickly or splash around, as this can trigger a shark’s predatory instincts. Instead, try to maintain eye contact with the shark and slowly back away while keeping it in your line of sight.
6. Can shark attacks be prevented?
While shark attacks cannot be completely prevented, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Avoid swimming in areas known to be frequented by sharks, such as near fishing boats or in murky water. Wear a wetsuit or other protective gear if possible, and avoid wearing shiny jewelry or bright clothing that may attract sharks.
7. What are the odds of surviving a shark attack?
The odds of surviving a shark attack are relatively high, with a global survival rate of around 80%. However, the severity of injuries can vary greatly depending on the type of shark and the circumstances of the attack.
8. Why do sharks attack humans?
Sharks rarely attack humans, and when they do, it is usually a case of mistaken identity. Sharks may mistake humans for their natural prey, such as seals or fish, or may attack out of curiosity or territorial defense. It is important to remember that most shark species are not dangerous to humans, and that humans are not a natural prey item for sharks.
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