It's behind you: How to best fight off a shark

MIAMI, Florida (17 Jan 2006) --  An Australian diver has narrowly survived a shark attack by fighting it with his speargun - the latest in a long line of shark-related incidents. So what is the best way to take on a shark and win?

Bernie Williams, a 46-year-old Australian scuba-diver, fought off repeated attacks by an 11ft (3.5m) shark by hitting it on the nose with his speargun.

As is most often the case, he didn't see the shark coming until it bit him.

Mr Williams said: "It just came out from my left hand side... chomped on my arm and took me for a ride for about two metres.

"I stabbed it on the nose with a speargun, but it was just like hitting a lump of steel. It didn't slow down in the slightest."

The shark retreated before making another attack on Mr Williams, giving him just enough time to hide in a crevice near the ocean floor until his diving buddies came to the rescue.

So was Mr Williams' response a text book example of defence or are there better ways to take on Jaws?

Escape strategy

George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and the International Shark Attack File, says the first thing to do is get out of the water as soon as possible.

"Have an escape strategy at all times," he says, "But, if you're diving and can't get out of the water easily, find a place at the bottom of the ocean. This reduces the number of angles the shark can attack you from."

Mr Burgess recommends you swim back to back with your dive partner which gives you two pairs of eyes to watch for the shark.

Although getting out of the water as soon as you see a shark sounds like, sound advice, most attacks come out of the blue. Victims do not know they are in danger until the shark attacks.

"If you can't escape before an attack, hit it with an object - like a spear or camera or whatever you have to hand - avoid using your bare hands. You can replace your camera easily, but not your hands and feet.

"If the shark is persistent hit it hard on the end of the nose which is just a little north of the mouth. But be careful, if you miss you'll place your hand or weapon in the shark's jaws."

In an all-out shark-fight Mr Burgess, perhaps unsurprisingly, recommends being as aggressive as possible.

Play dead?

"Fight like a man," he says, "If you can, get your hands into the gill openings on the side of the shark which are very sensitive."

He also debunks the myth that remaining motionless may fool a circling shark into ignoring you and heading off for other prey.

Whatever you do, don't ever play dead, if you're attacked and you can't escape you will have to fight back and then get out of the water as soon as you can."

Aidan Martin, Director of Australia's Reefquest Centre for Shark Research, echoes Mr Burgess' advice but adds that it's important not to panic.

"That may seem like a tall order under the circumstances, but most shark attacks result in injuries that are readily survivable. Do nothing to unnecessarily incite a retaliatory strike... I have no doubt it's possible to annoy a shark."

Mr Martin adds you should try to staunch any bleeding, even before you get out of the water.

So, full marks to attack-survivor Mr Williams who responded exactly as recommended. But should we all be more aware of the dangers? Are sharks attacking more humans?

Responsibility

Decade on decade the number of shark attacks on people has increased.

However, Mr Burgess says, this is only because the number of humans spending more time in the water, and in deeper waters too. In effect, people are invading the sharks' territory.

"When I starting diving years ago we were oddballs, now it is a very common water activity. In reality, we're pushing the sharks out of the water."

Mr Martin agrees: "We need to stop treating the ocean like a swimming pool. It is a wilderness. And when we enter this liquid wilderness, we must assume responsibility for our own safety."

News by BBC

6:53 AM - 1/20/2006 - post comment

Copyright

Not sure it is a good idea to post copyrighted text here on this site. It can lead to legal problems for you or Gabriel if you don't have permission. Some good advice though!

DrBill - 2:15 PM - 1/20/2006

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