A shark attack survivor says to do this if you come face to fin with a great white
Former Australian Navy diver and shark attack survivor, Paul de Gelder, who lost his right hand and leg in a 2009 Sydney Harbor attack, says the key to ensuring your survival lies in your behavior. First, stay cool and collected, he told 'CBS Mornings' this week - no matter how hard that may be.
"I know it goes against all natural instincts of preservation, not to panic, but that's the most important thing you can do," the 47-year-old said. 'You have to understand these sharks don't really know what you are, you're almost the same size as them, and they don't want to fight."
Second, he said, be aware of where the shark is at all times by staring the apex predator down.
'They know when you're watching, they don't want to attack you when you're watching" he explained.
Lastly, resist the urge to punch the creature — unless you absolutely have to. Pushing the sharks can guide them away from you, but divers advise people not to grab their faces.
'Because under their snouts are highly sensitive pores called the Ampullae of Lorenzini — tiny receptors that detect electrical signals. Touching that area can overstimulate them, causing a shark to reflexively open its mouth wide,' SDM Diving says.
However, sharks respect size and power and people should not act passively during an encounter. Beachgoers have gotten away from sharks by taking swings at their noses and eyes. De Gelder tried to do the same, but was unsuccessful.
Should the shark become aggressive, shark researcher Ryan Johnson previously told the BBC that people should try to do everything in their power and keep their hands out the animals' jaws. Ideally, they should use something hard to push the shark away.
'In a situation where you don't have that, going for the face and the gills and trying to keep your hands out of its mouth is always the best thing,' he said.
Experts at the Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File say people should aim for the eyes and gills, but note that water resistance weakens a punch.
Of course, the chance of any of this happening is incredibly remote. A human is more likely to bite you than a shark and a Stanford University report from 2015 found that surfers and scuba divers have a one in 17 million and one in 136 million chance of being bitten, respectively.
More often than not, a bite is the case of mistaken identity and potentially the result of low vision in great whites.
Last year, the number of unprovoked bites were significantly lower than average, in the U.S. and globally. There were 28 in the U.S., compared to the 36 reported in 2023.
Still, to be safe, there are things people can do before they enter the water to minimize their chance of a bite, including not entering the water where there's a lot of fish, not going into the water alone or at dawn or dusk, when vision may be low.
De Gelder, who is part of a new Discovery Channel special called 'How to Survive a Shark Attack,' previously told the Australian Broadcasting Company that he was wearing a wet suit and black fins, likely 'looking like an injured seal' to the shark that attacked him.
"I want to show people by doing," he told CBS.
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Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Yahoo
A shark attack survivor says to do this if you come face to fin with a great white
You're treading cold ocean water off Cape Cod and, suddenly, you're not alone - a great white shark has confused you for a bobbing grey seal, and is hoping for a lucky bite. What do you do? Former Australian Navy diver and shark attack survivor, Paul de Gelder, who lost his right hand and leg in a 2009 Sydney Harbor attack, says the key to ensuring your survival lies in your behavior. First, stay cool and collected, he told 'CBS Mornings' this week - no matter how hard that may be. "I know it goes against all natural instincts of preservation, not to panic, but that's the most important thing you can do," the 47-year-old said. 'You have to understand these sharks don't really know what you are, you're almost the same size as them, and they don't want to fight." Second, he said, be aware of where the shark is at all times by staring the apex predator down. 'They know when you're watching, they don't want to attack you when you're watching" he explained. Lastly, resist the urge to punch the creature — unless you absolutely have to. Pushing the sharks can guide them away from you, but divers advise people not to grab their faces. 'Because under their snouts are highly sensitive pores called the Ampullae of Lorenzini — tiny receptors that detect electrical signals. Touching that area can overstimulate them, causing a shark to reflexively open its mouth wide,' SDM Diving says. However, sharks respect size and power and people should not act passively during an encounter. Beachgoers have gotten away from sharks by taking swings at their noses and eyes. De Gelder tried to do the same, but was unsuccessful. Should the shark become aggressive, shark researcher Ryan Johnson previously told the BBC that people should try to do everything in their power and keep their hands out the animals' jaws. Ideally, they should use something hard to push the shark away. 'In a situation where you don't have that, going for the face and the gills and trying to keep your hands out of its mouth is always the best thing,' he said. Experts at the Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File say people should aim for the eyes and gills, but note that water resistance weakens a punch. Of course, the chance of any of this happening is incredibly remote. A human is more likely to bite you than a shark and a Stanford University report from 2015 found that surfers and scuba divers have a one in 17 million and one in 136 million chance of being bitten, respectively. More often than not, a bite is the case of mistaken identity and potentially the result of low vision in great whites. Last year, the number of unprovoked bites were significantly lower than average, in the U.S. and globally. There were 28 in the U.S., compared to the 36 reported in 2023. Still, to be safe, there are things people can do before they enter the water to minimize their chance of a bite, including not entering the water where there's a lot of fish, not going into the water alone or at dawn or dusk, when vision may be low. De Gelder, who is part of a new Discovery Channel special called 'How to Survive a Shark Attack,' previously told the Australian Broadcasting Company that he was wearing a wet suit and black fins, likely 'looking like an injured seal' to the shark that attacked him. "I want to show people by doing," he told CBS.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Yahoo
A shark attack survivor says to do this if you come face to fin with a great white
You're treading cold ocean water off Cape Cod and, suddenly, you're not alone - a great white shark has confused you for a bobbing grey seal, and is hoping for a lucky bite. What do you do? Former Australian Navy diver and shark attack survivor, Paul de Gelder, who lost his right hand and leg in a 2009 Sydney Harbor attack, says the key to ensuring your survival lies in your behavior. First, stay cool and collected, he told 'CBS Mornings' this week - no matter how hard that may be. "I know it goes against all natural instincts of preservation, not to panic, but that's the most important thing you can do," the 47-year-old said. 'You have to understand these sharks don't really know what you are, you're almost the same size as them, and they don't want to fight." Second, he said, be aware of where the shark is at all times by staring the apex predator down. 'They know when you're watching, they don't want to attack you when you're watching" he explained. Lastly, resist the urge to punch the creature — unless you absolutely have to. Pushing the sharks can guide them away from you, but divers advise people not to grab their faces. 'Because under their snouts are highly sensitive pores called the Ampullae of Lorenzini — tiny receptors that detect electrical signals. Touching that area can overstimulate them, causing a shark to reflexively open its mouth wide,' SDM Diving says. However, sharks respect size and power and people should not act passively during an encounter. Beachgoers have gotten away from sharks by taking swings at their noses and eyes. De Gelder tried to do the same, but was unsuccessful. Should the shark become aggressive, shark researcher Ryan Johnson previously told the BBC that people should try to do everything in their power and keep their hands out the animals' jaws. Ideally, they should use something hard to push the shark away. 'In a situation where you don't have that, going for the face and the gills and trying to keep your hands out of its mouth is always the best thing,' he said. Experts at the Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File say people should aim for the eyes and gills, but note that water resistance weakens a punch. Of course, the chance of any of this happening is incredibly remote. A human is more likely to bite you than a shark and a Stanford University report from 2015 found that surfers and scuba divers have a one in 17 million and one in 136 million chance of being bitten, respectively. More often than not, a bite is the case of mistaken identity and potentially the result of low vision in great whites. Last year, the number of unprovoked bites were significantly lower than average, in the U.S. and globally. There were 28 in the U.S., compared to the 36 reported in 2023. Still, to be safe, there are things people can do before they enter the water to minimize their chance of a bite, including not entering the water where there's a lot of fish, not going into the water alone or at dawn or dusk, when vision may be low. De Gelder, who is part of a new Discovery Channel special called 'How to Survive a Shark Attack,' previously told the Australian Broadcasting Company that he was wearing a wet suit and black fins, likely 'looking like an injured seal' to the shark that attacked him. "I want to show people by doing," he told CBS.
Boston Globe
20-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Here's what shark experts do to stay safe in the ocean
You're more likely to die falling into a hole at the beach, in a riptide or in an alligator attack than from a shark bite, according to data from the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. Last year, the museum recorded 47 unprovoked bites worldwide. 'They're not these monster killers that just come flying in whenever there's bait,' said Neil Hammerschlag, a shark researcher based in Nova Scotia, Canada, who charters cage-diving expeditions to bring tourists up close to blue, mako and great white sharks. 'They're very cautious.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Hammerschlag, who's been studying sharks for 24 years, said some are more curious about the color of the boat or the sound of the engine than the 20 pounds of sushi-grade tuna he brings on each trip as bait. Advertisement Chris Lowe, the director of the Shark Lab at California State University in Long Beach, said he has 'hundreds, if not thousands of hours footage' of sharks near the shore in California. And, most of the time, they're there to relax, he said. For three years, researchers in Lowe's lab surveyed 26 beaches from Santa Barbara to San Diego with drones and saw sharks swim right under surfers without changing course. 'It's like they are ignoring us,' he said. 'We're just flotsam, not food or foe.' Advertisement The Washington Post asked Hammerschlag and Lowe what they do and the advice they give beachgoers who want to avoid a shark encounter. Be aware of your surroundings Lowe said when he's out in the water he spends some time looking behind himself and others, 'like checking my mirrors when I'm driving.' Sharks are stealthy and try to approach other animals from behind. Don't treat the ocean like Disneyland, Lowe said. You're in a wild place where you can't eliminate all risks. His advice: Be vigilant. It will reduce your likelihood of a shark swimming up too closely to investigate you. And, do your homework about the body of water you're swimming in. 'Who are you going to be sharing the ocean with? Is it sharks? Is it stingrays?' Lowe said. 'When we go in the ocean, we are entering someone else's home.' Avoid swimming at dawn, dusk and night Sharks may confuse a human foot for a fish, or a surfboard for a seal, when visibility is poor, such as in lowlight conditions. Sharks use their mouth and teeth to inspect what's in front of them like we use our hands, Hammerschlag said. 'Most shark bites of people are not predatory,' he said. 'When sharks have bitten people, it seems that they're investigatory or mistaken identity.' Don't wear reflective jewelry in the water The light glimmering off jewelry can look like a fish scale to a shark, Hammerschlag said. He adds reflective stickers to the cage he uses on diving expeditions to try to catch a shark's attention. Don't swim near someone who's fishing A fish caught on a line could get the attention of a shark. 'Those vibrations are like ringing the dinner bell for a shark,' Hammerschlag said. Advertisement However, it can help to swim near other people, Lowe said, since groups of people might be more intimidating than solo swimmers. Don't swim where there's an 'unusual amount of fish activity' If you see fish jumping out of water or birds diving for a meal, there could be a 'bait ball' of fish nearby, and that's a feeding opportunity for sharks, Hammerschlag said. There's a myth that a pod of dolphins can ward off sharks. But, he said, the opposite may be the case. 'If there's a big bait ball of fish that dolphins are feeding on, the sharks could be feeing on that, as well,' Hammerschlag said. Don't panic when you spot a shark If you see a shark in the water, don't panic and swim away, Hammerschlag said. If you do, the shark might see you as prey. And, 'you're not going to outswim a shark,' he said. Instead, orient your body so you're always facing the shark and maintain eye contact, Hammerschlag said. Sharks can't sneak up on you if there's no element of surprise. 'You're showing the shark that you see it, and you're responding to it,' he said. 'And that is not a situation that a hunting shark wants to be in.' If you're scuba diving, you can also sit on the ocean floor; sharks tend to approach potential prey from below, Hammerschlag said.
