As summer kicks into gear and more people head into the water, shark season is also approaching in the US. Because of this, marine experts are now sharing crucial advice that could literally be the difference between life and death for anyone who runs into a great white shark in the ocean.
Just within the past few weeks, the ‘biggest great white shark’ ever recorded was seen again near a popular coastal area in the United States—specifically along the Florida and Georgia shoreline. In another alarming incident, a young girl nearly lost her hand during a snorkelling trip in Florida after being bitten by a shark.
This frightening moment happened on June 11, when nine-year-old Leah Lendel was enjoying time with her family near the shores of Boca Grande, Florida.
“I was just snorkeling, and then I went up to breathe.” she recalled during a press interview. “Then something hard bit me and tried to tug me away. I looked at my hand, and it was covered in blood. I started screaming for my mom.”
Thankfully, Leah was rushed to the hospital just in time. Doctors were able to treat her quickly and save her hand, and it looks like she’s expected to make a full recovery.
However, Leah wasn’t the only one to have a terrifying encounter with a shark this month. On June 17, less than a week later, another person was attacked while at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. That person was injured in the leg, although thankfully the wound was not life-threatening.
The shark attack happened off the coast of Boca Grande, Floridaalexeys/Getty stock photo
Contender – North America’s biggest male great white
The enormous great white shark that made headlines is named Contender. He currently holds the title of the largest known male great white shark ever documented in North America.
This giant measures 14 feet in length and weighs a whopping 1,653 pounds. Recently, he was tracked swimming farther north along the US coast, reaching as close as 45 miles off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, before moving toward North Carolina.
The shark has been spotted once more
How to avoid shark attacks
To help people stay safe, Dr. Harley Newton—who serves as the chief scientist and veterinarian at OCEARCH has shared some key advice that could make a huge difference. One of her top recommendations is to avoid wearing shiny jewellery or anything that might reflect light while you’re in the ocean.
It’s also a smart idea to remain close to the shoreline whenever you can, and try not to swim completely alone if it’s avoidable.
“The ocean is a wild place.” Newton explained during her advice.
“If you see schools of fish, particularly if they’re jumping out of the water, that might be something that you want to move away from because that’s going to be very attractive for sharks, and it might help you avoid an accident or an incident.”
She also emphasized that if you happen to spot a shark nearby while swimming, the worst thing you can do is turn your back on it. Instead, you should face the shark and begin backing away slowly and calmly.
What should you do if a shark approaches you in the water?
Shark conservationist Ocean Ramsey, who is based in Hawaii, offered similar guidance. Her experience and knowledge shed light on what people often get wrong.
If you’ve ever seen any of the over-the-top, dramatic movies that portray sharks as villains—as Ocean puts it, the ‘sensationalized, demonizing, fictitious movies’—you’ll notice that victims usually panic, splash around, try to flee, and scream. These actions are exactly what you shouldn’t do.
Instead, Ocean recommends taking a completely different approach. She says that when a shark approaches, you should try to look bigger—just like you would if you were dealing with an aggressive dog. You should face the shark directly, make yourself appear as large as possible, and slowly move backward without making too much noise or motion.