After man survives 20-foot great white shark attack, here’s some ways you can stay shark safe
A man in 60s has survived a shark encounter of the razor-sharp toothed kind after being bitten by a great white, with the bite marks left on him strongly indicating a shark of some 20 feet in length.
That’s a 20-footer…so proclaimed Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) in Jaws, and that’s how large the largest great white has been measured at – all knowing that he’s 25 feet in the film – so that could make this shark one of the largest in the world.
A great white shark that size puts it at the same length as Deep Blue, the worlds biggest known great white.
Steve Bruemmer, 62, from Monterey, was attacked while swimming off Lovers Point in the city of Pacific Grove on June 22 – just two days after the 47th release anniversary of Jaws.
The shark had bitten his leg, stomach and arms, but despite loosing lots of blood his bites didn’t cause any major injuries and he is expected to make a full recovery.
It is extremely important to note that shark attacks on humans are incredibly rare, but they do happen and because of their rarity and the very nature of them they often gain widespread media and social media coverage.
The International Shark Attack File recorded that there were 73 global unprovoked shark attacks, which when you look at it globally and the increasing number of people who use the water is a low number of global incidents. But many members of the public perceive the risk of encountering a shark to be much higher than the actual statistics.
So, why to sharks attack humans?
Mistaken identity
Sharks may be popular movie villains, but they aren’t serial killers or swimming out in the sea lurking to lunge at the next human they see. And they don’t – to quote Quint – “swallow yer whole”, but more take a test bite or taste test to see what they have got their teeth wrapped around.
In most instances it is a case of mistaken identity. It's long been suggested that many unprovoked attacks on humans by sharks are opportunist - after all, we are in their domain - or that the shark is mistaking swimming in the water as the thrashing of an injured creature.
Great whites are thought to be more successful in hunting prey at the water’s surface, which is where we like to play, so puts us in their path sometimes.
Research has shown that juvenile great whites are responsible for a large number of attacks on humans, and crucially their eyesight hasn't yet fully developed. Hence the mistaken identity, or should that be mistaken bitedentity?
How can you limit your risk of being attacked by a shark?
The most obvious answer is don’t go in the water (If only the Brody family had moved somewhere away from water), but those that do can take several precautions.
So, with the attack swimming high in the media, we take a look at what can you do to make sure you are as safe as you can be next time you go into the water?
How to avoid being bitten or attacked by a shark
Don’t swim at certain times of day, sharks are nocturnal and crepuscular (dawn and dusk) predators. Swimming at these times of day, during low light and poor visibility greatly increase your risk of a shark bite, just ask Chrissie Watkins! It is also thought that more shark attacks happen during a full moon, although that doesn’t mean if it isn’t a full moon you will be safe from a shark encounter.
Avoid swimming near obvious signs of prey species for sharks. Large baitballs of fish, seal colonies and even washed-up whales/dolphins – as seen in The Shallows - are all signs not to enter the water.
Avoid swimming in or near estuaries, run off from the land can attract certain shark species into these areas. Estuaries are also bodies of water where visibility is extremely low, making it harder for a shark to tell between you and a prey item.
Avoid swimming in/around ports or harbours in areas where sharks are known to be present. Fishers often will throw discards/innards of their catch into the water in these areas, acting as a dinner bell for any nearby sharks.
When choosing to swim in the sea, it is always best practice to swim with someone else. NEVER swim alone! In the event of a shark bite, having an additional person with you or nearby, allows them to call for help if there is an accident.
Don’t wear jewellery, it glinting in the water could attract the unwanted attention of a curious shark.
Don’t go swimming if you have a cut, smell is one of the strongest senses of a shark and they will smell your cut or injury. Also avoid the water if you are having your menstrual cycle.
What can you do to try and avoid being bitten or attacked by a shark if you encounter one in the water?
Maintain eye contact with the shark, keep it within your field of vision at all times. Many bites occur when the swimmer is unaware of the presence of the shark in the near vicinity.
Avoid erratic motions in the water. Sharks are attracted to splashes/loud noises as this mimics the motions of an injured prey species and will likely come closer to investigate. Remain calm and composed, but also don’t play dead. The shark may think you are an easy meal.
If you have an item with you, position this between yourself and the shark. This may be a camera, gopro pole, spear gun, or even your fins. These are all items that can be used as a barrier between you and the shark if necessary.
As a last resort, what can you do if a shark does choose to be aggressive and attempts to bite or attack?
Defend yourself by targeting the sensitive areas of the shark, this are the gills, eyes and snout. Punching hard underwater is difficult, due to water tension, as a result, a light punch on the nose is likely not going to do enough to deter the shark. Gouging in the eyes and gill area is incredibly painful for a shark, these are areas you should be targeting to defend yourself.
Exit the water immediately!
If you have been bitten, seek immediate medical attention, and apply a tourniquet to the affected area (as tight as possible). If a medical tourniquet is not present, a ripped-up towel, which is then rolled can act in the place of a tourniquet until adequate medical equipment arrives. Many shark attack victims don’t die from initial bites, but from the resulting blood loss.
Words by Dean Newman and Kristian Parton
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