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BBC News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'The senator said he took a wrong turning on a dark night': How a fatal accident ended Ted Kennedy's presidential hopes
On 25 July 1969, 56 years ago, Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene of an accident where a young aide died. But as a BBC reporter learnt, Kennedy left many questions unanswered. "There are people here who plainly feel that ugly and dishonourable things have happened here this summer," said BBC reporter Brian Saxton in August 1969. He was standing outside the courthouse in Edgartown, Massachusetts that would hold the inquest into what was already becoming known as the "Chappaquiddick incident". A month earlier, US Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy had appeared in the same courthouse to plead guilty to fleeing the scene of a car accident. His young female passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, had been killed. The two had been at a party in a rented cottage on Chappaquiddick Island, a popular holiday destination for the US's rich and famous that was only accessible by ferry from Martha's Vineyard. "That last fatal ride on 18 July has already produced a good deal of conflicting stories," reported Saxton. "Stories that have been used by many American journalists to Senator Kennedy's political disadvantage." At the time, Teddy was the sole surviving son of the influential Kennedy political dynasty. The family had suffered a succession of tragedies in the preceding years. Teddy's older brother, US President John F Kennedy, had been assassinated in Dallas in 1963. The eldest of the four Kennedy boys, Joe Jr, had been killed undertaking a covert wartime mission in 1944, and his sister Kathleen had died in a plane crash over France in 1948. Another sister, Rosemary, was lobotomised at the age of 23 when their father Joseph became concerned about her behaviour. She would end up spending most of her life in an institution. A little over a year before the Chappaquiddick incident, Teddy's remaining brother, Senator Robert F Kennedy, had been shot dead while campaigning in Los Angeles for the Democratic presidential nomination. In fact, the get-together on 18 July was a reunion for people who had worked on his late brother's ill-fated political campaign. Among the guests present were a group of six female political strategists known as "Boiler Room Girls" because of the hot, windowless office where they worked in Washington, DC. One of these women was the 28-year-old Kopechne, who had worked on the wording of Bobby's speech announcing his presidential candidacy. There was a growing belief that Ted would take up his brother's political mantle. The January before the RFK campaign reunion, he had been chosen by the Democratic party as its youngest ever senate majority whip. He was now widely tipped to be the party's candidate to challenge US President Richard Nixon. There were promising signs that, once again, a Kennedy would sit in the White House. The Chappaquiddick party was still in full swing when, sometime after 11pm, Senator Kennedy and Kopechne decided to leave. According to the statement he later gave to the police, Kennedy offered to drive Kopechne to the ferry landing, so that she could catch the last ferry back to Edgartown, where her hotel was. However, she did not tell her friends that she was leaving, and she left her handbag and room key behind at the party. It was on the drive to the ferry that the accident occurred. "The senator said he took a wrong turning on a dark night and was lost, although it's known he was familiar with the island," said Saxton. As Kennedy drove down the unlit Dyke Road, his car veered off a narrow, wooden bridge which had no railings, and plunged into a cold tidal pond. The car landed upside down, and immediately began filling up with water. "I remember thinking as the cold water rushed in around my head that I was for certain drowning," Kennedy would later say in a television address on 25 July 1969. "Then water entered my lungs, and I actually felt the sensation of drowning." Fleeing the scene Kennedy managed to get himself free from the vehicle and swim to the surface. He told police that he called Kopechne's name and, despite repeatedly diving into water, he was unable to rescue her from the submerged car. It was then that the senator decided to walk back to the party, passing by several houses on route where he could have sought help. When he reached the cottage, the get-together was still in progress, but Kennedy did not alert the authorities or the other guests about what had happened. Instead, he only confided in his friend Paul Markham – a former US attorney for Massachusetts – and his cousin Joseph Gargan about the accident. The two men returned by car with Kennedy to Dyke Bridge and took turns diving into the water to try to reach Kopechne, but were thwarted by the strong tidal currents. Gargan and Markham drove with Kennedy to the ferry landing. They both urged him to report the accident to the police and then they returned to the party, but they too didn't tell anyone about what had happened. Since there were no longer any ferries to take him off Chappaquiddick Island, Kennedy decided to swim 500ft (150m) across the channel to Edgartown. Sopping wet and exhausted, he stumbled back to his hotel, the Shiretown Inn, but instead of calling the police, he went up to his room, removed his clothes and collapsed on his bed. At around 2:30am he left his room to ask hotel staff what the time was, and then he returned to bed. The following morning, Edgartown's police chief, Jim Arena, responded to a call reporting a car in the water off the Dyke Bridge. When Arena reached the sunken car, he tried to swim out and look inside it, but found the tide was too strong. "John Farrar arrived and he was a scuba diver and went a little under the car and came up and told me there is a body in there," Arena told the BBC's Witness History in 2014. "He had a rope, so we pulled this young lady's body up, and despite any rumours to the contrary, she was completely dressed, and it's a terrible thing to say but it looked like if we could prop her up she'd be ready to go out for the evening." Farrar also managed to recover a pocketbook from the car belonging to another one of the "Boiler Room Girls", Rosemary Keough, leading Arena to believe that he had identified the victim. The police chief called his station to see if they could locate Kennedy, only to be told that the senator was already waiting in his office for him. "I drove back to the station," said Arena, "walked into the office and there was Senator Kennedy, and I said I'm sorry about Miss Keough, because that's who I thought the young lady might be, and he said it wasn't Rosemary Keough, it was Miss Kopechne. "[Kennedy] didn't appear like he was injured or anything, he appeared clear-eyed, normal, actually. He didn't appear to be disturbed or he certainly didn't appear to be under the influence of anything. Needless to say, I hadn't had any idea about the time lapse and all that before I got the statement." Speculation and allegations Nearly 10 hours had elapsed between the accident and Kennedy reporting it. Arena told BBC Witness History that while there were clearly questions as to what happened that night, "to charge someone with that, you'd have to be able to establish that there was an illegal act done. In other words, he had been driving over the speed limit or something had contributed to him going off the road and going off the bridge, and we had no way of proving that." Given the amount of time that had now passed, "it wouldn't be much of a proof if I had an alcohol test done, so basically we were left with leaving the scene after causing personal injury, but that was about it." In the immediate aftermath, the news of the Chappaquiddick incident was largely eclipsed by the widespread press coverage of the Apollo 11 Moon landings and Neil Armstrong becoming the first man to walk on the Moon on 20 July 1969. But interest in the story rose when Kennedy, wearing a neck brace, attended Kopechne's funeral two days later with his wife Joan. Kopechne's body had been flown to Pennsylvania to be buried without an autopsy, and the strange circumstances and unanswered questions surrounding the accident began to make headlines. More like this:• The 1960s sex scandal that rocked British politics• The Cold War spy mystery of the 'vanishing frogman'• The mysterious murder of 'God's banker' By the time Kennedy pleaded guilty on 25 July, the press had descended on Edgartown to cover the story. The senator received a two-month suspended jail sentence and the loss of his driving licence for a year. The same evening, he took to national television to express his remorse over Kopechne's death, and to try to explain his version of events and behaviour that night. "There is no truth, no truth whatever, to the widely circulated suspicions of immoral conduct that have been levelled at my behaviour and hers regarding that evening," he said. Kennedy denied he was "driving under the influence of liquor", and said that although he was in a state of shock, it was indefensible that he "did not report the accident to the police immediately". He said: "I was overcome, I'm frank to say, by a jumble of emotions: grief, fear, doubt, exhaustion, panic, confusion and shock." But several suspicious details served to fuel speculation. "There are so many things," Arena told the BBC. "For instance, even the morning we were called about the accident, he was seen at the Shiretown Inn, where he was staying, sitting having breakfast in somewhat of a casual manner." A newspaper, the Manchester Union Leader, claimed that multiple long-distance telephone calls were made and charged to Kennedy's credit card before he informed the police. There were allegations that he had asked "his cousin to say he had driven the car, but he had changed his mind", said Saxon. "And that he didn't make that impulsive swim back to the mainland, but friends instead provided a boat." As more people came forward with statements, the impression grew that the public was not being told the full story. Deputy Sheriff Christopher "Huck" Look testified that he saw the Kennedy car, with Kopechne and Kennedy in it, around 12:40am on 19 July – more than an hour after Kennedy said it had driven off the bridge. And John Farrar, the diver who retrieved Kopechne's body, testified that he believed she survived in an air pocket in the submerged vehicle for up to half an hour before she had suffocated – contrary to the official ruling that she had drowned. Ultimately, the formal inquest returned no indictment and the case was closed, but the incident cast a long shadow. The Kopechnes were devastated by the death of their only child. Kennedy's wife Joan would suffer a miscarriage shortly after attending Kopechne's funeral. Kennedy would be defeated as senate majority whip in 1971. And in the years since, various theories have developed concerning the accident, its aftermath and why Kennedy took so long to report it. Those lingering doubts would mean that he would never secure his party's nomination for president. He would, however, continue to serve as a US senator until his death in 2009. Known as the "the lion of the Senate", he was one of the Democratic Party's most effective lawmakers, famed for his ability to forge alliances across party lines to push forward education, immigration and health-care legislation. But the mysteries around the tragic death of the young woman at the centre of the Chappaquiddick incident would remain unresolved. "Nobody will ever know because there were only two witnesses to the whole thing," said Arena. "One was dead, and the other one is deceased now." -- For more stories and never-before-published radio scripts to your inbox, sign up to the In History newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights twice a week. For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Big boats and killer beaches: On a Jaws journey through Martha's Vineyard
'No jumping or diving,' read the sign in large black lettering. Standing on a spot best known as 'Jaws Bridge'' I was in absolutely no danger of doing that. I scanned the sea for that distinctive grey fin. The water was calm, the sky a wonderful icy blue, tinged by a soft afternoon glow. Sadly, there wasn't a fish in sight. With the movie now in its 50th year, I was on a pilgrimage of sorts to visit the top locations in the film, which is being celebrated in full force in June. A whole host of events and activities are underway – from guided film tours and a chance to meet some of the original crew and cast, to a carefully curated Jaws exhibit at Martha's Vineyard Museum, along with a deep dive masterclass into the film with historian and film scholar Bowdoin Van Riper. I was told a visit was like stepping into the film's fictional Amity Island. This is particularly true of Edgartown – one of my first stops – where many of the distinctive seaside buildings from the screen are still standing. En route, I made an essential stop to buy as much Jaws merchandise as my luggage would allow. Trucker hat, T-shirt, socks, hand towel and an oven mitt successfully purchased (I drew the line at flip flops), I was not only ready to get my tour on, but suitably dressed for the occasion. I passed through small-town Oak Bluffs, better known for its 300 plus Victorian gingerbread cottages than its links to the film. Still, any Jaws fan would be remiss to skip these pretty pastel-coloured homes. Built in the 1800s around a Methodist camp meeting ground, they look plucked from the pages of Brothers Grimm's Hansel and Gretel fairytale. Intricate wooden trims line the cottage balconies like icing on a cake. Each has a cute porch and rocking chair, some with the odd trinket on view in the window. One named 'Sweet Chariot' bizarrely displayed a window full of horse medals. But I digress. No time to waste, I exited Oak Bluffs via Beach Road, a long strip stretching down the coast. I failed at trying to contain my excitement as I crossed over Jaws Bridge for the first time, screaming 'Shaaarrk in the pond! Shark, shark!' to my bemused partner. Originally settled by whaling captains, much of Edgartown's centre retains its historic architecture. Rustic clapboard homes are now inns, shops or restaurants – and they really do look like the ones in the movie. I could almost see Roy Scheider's Chief Brody storming out of the Amity Police Department in a panic, after punching 'Shark attack' into a police report minutes earlier – the first real signifier of the horror to come. From Edgartown, I hopped on the three-minute Chappy Ferry to Chappaquiddick Island. This is the same ferry where Brody and Murray Hamilton's Mayor Vaughn butt heads over closing the beaches. 'You yell 'shark' and we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July,' said Vaughn as the ferry shuttled them across the water, stopping the conversation dead. Thankfully, our trip over was far more amiable. A chipper 'hey there, friends!' from the ferry crewman, who went on to inform us he'd just seen a bald eagle soaring overhead. Apparently, we missed it by mere minutes. Aside from Jaws, politicos might recognise Chappaquiddick for its part in US Senator Ted Kennedy's mired career. In 1969, Kennedy accidentally drove off a narrow bridge on the island, after leaving a party to catch the Chappy Ferry with 28-year-old, Mary Jo Kopechne. After attempting to rescue Kopechne, Kennedy fled the scene. Kopechne sadly died – and Kennedy's career never completely recovered from the incident. Despite the tragic backdrop, walking around the area was a peaceful experience and we were lucky enough to be the only people around. Catching sight of a warning – 'caution, extremely soft sand' – we parked our car and travelled over the infamous bridge on foot. We headed towards the shoreline via a snaking walkway made from planks of old wood, framed by tufts of American beachgrass sprouting from the sand. This was my idea of New England perfection. Chappaquiddick is still inhabited by the Wampanoag tribe, who have lived here for at least 10,000 years on a part of the island called Aquinnah (also known as Gay Head). A visit to their cultural centre offers a window into the Wampanoag's heritage – and, as it happens, puts you just steps from another iconic Jaws scene. Remember the vandalised 'Amity Island Welcomes You' sign? Well, the sign isn't there today, but it's where shark obsessive oceanographer Hooper (played by the superb Richard Dreyfuss) delivers one of the best lines of the film: 'What we are dealing with here is a perfect engine: an eating machine!' Before calling it a day, I headed to Martha's Vineyard Museum to meet the team putting together the anniversary celebrations in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, including Bowdoin 'Bow' Van Riper whose Jaws knowledge knew no bounds. As a child during the summer of 1974 when filming took place, Bow was an extra in the movie. Sadly, his scene didn't make the final cut, but he proceeded to give me a fascinating breakdown of what makes the movie so iconic. For instance, did you know the mechanical shark ('Bruce') kept on breaking down during the movie? This meant Spielberg had to find alternative ways to shoot it, like those yellow barrels they fire into the shark to track it and tire it out. 'So instead of creating what's known in the business as a 'jump scare', he had to suggest the shark was out there waiting to eat our heroes instead,' he says. I also spoke to Laurel Redington, the museum's director of programming and audience engagement, who had been devising the Jaws programme. Aside from all the classic fanfare you'd expect in celebration of the movie – a special mention to the 'Barks & Sharks' dog costume meet-up (please take photos) – she made a more serious point about shark conservation and awareness. The film led to what marine biologists refer to as the 'Jaws effect', which prompted a spike in shark hunting. Peter Benchley, the author of the book on which the film was based, later became a passionate shark conservationist. 'Knowing what I know now, I could never write that book today,' he lamented. Fortunately, the shark population, including great whites, has increased around Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod in the last decade. It's not an entirely happy-ending, however, as this is linked with warming waters (as well as an increasing seal population), which presents new issues. The programme has a strong educational thread running through it that tempers the fear element of the film with the reality: 'Great whites actually shy away from humans'. It also hopes to raise awareness of how to be safe in the water, which can be broadly summed up by the rule: if you see a seal, get out of the water. I ended my tour in Chilmark, a fishing village in Menemsha where Captain Quint's shack once stood. Though the original set is long gone, the cluster of small harbour buildings still feels like a backdrop to the film. We sat by the docks with warm, buttered lobster rolls from Menemsha Fish Market, watching a fisherman haul supplies onto a tiny boat headed out to sea. He's definitely gonna need a bigger boat, I thought. Getting there Numerous airlines fly from the UK to Boston, including JetBlue, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Flight time is around seven and a half hours. The drive from Boston to Martha's Vineyard is around two hours and 20 minutes and the ferry over to the island is usually 45 minutes. Where to stay Robyn was a guest of Mansion House, which has been in operation since 1794. It's said to be the hotel that Spielberg's location scout stayed at when he visited the island – by accident. The story goes that Martha's Vineyard was not the first choice to film Jaws. A storm actually forced the scout to detour from Nantucket to Martha's Vineyard, which is when he found the perfect location.
CNN
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Man swims 60 miles around Martha's Vineyard island to raise awareness for shark protections
A British-South African endurance athlete became the first person to swim around the island of Martha's Vineyard on Monday, completing a 60-mile (97-kilometer) trek over multiple days to raise awareness about the plight of sharks as the film 'Jaws' nears its 50th birthday. Lewis Pugh, 55, began swimming multiple hours a day in the 47-degree (8 degrees Celsius) water on May 15. He wants to change public perceptions and encourage protections for the at-risk animals — which he said the film maligned as 'villains, as cold-blooded killers.' 'We've been fighting sharks for 50 years,' he said after completing the last 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) of the swim before exiting the ocean at the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, near where 'Jaws' was filmed. 'Now, we need to make peace with them.' In total, Pugh swam for about 24 hours over 12 days. His first stop in Edgartown after greeting cheering fans on the beach was at an ice cream shop, where he enjoyed a cone of salted caramel and berry brownie. Pugh said this was among his most difficult endurance swims in an almost 40-year career, which says a lot for someone who has swum near glaciers and volcanoes, and among hippos, crocodiles and polar bears. Pugh was the first athlete to swim across the North Pole and complete a long-distance swim in every one of the world's oceans. He said he expected the swim to be difficult because of the water temperature, the distance and the fact that it was happening during the start of shark migration season. But the weather proved the most challenging element of all. 'It's been a long journey, it really has — 12 days, cold water, constant wind, waves, and then always thinking of what may be beneath me. It's been a big swim. A very big swim,' he said. 'When you swim for 12 days, you leave as one person and I think you come back as a different person with a new reflection on what you've been through.' Day after day, Pugh entered the island's frigid waters wearing just trunks, a cap and goggles, enduring foul weather as a nor'easter dumped 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain on parts of New England and flooded streets on Martha's Vineyard. Some days, he was only able to make it a little over half a mile (1 kilometer) before wind and waves made it impossible to see beyond an arm's length ahead. In some cases, he had to make up lost distance by swimming multiple legs in a day. 'I was just getting really cold and swallowing a lot of sea water, not making headway and then you're constantly thinking, 'Are we taking the right route here? Should we go further out to sea? Should we get closer in?'' he said. 'And meanwhile you're fighting currents.' But Pugh — who has been named a United Nations Patron of the Oceans and often swims to raise awareness for environmental causes — said no swim is without risk, and that drastic measures are needed to get his message across: About 274,000 sharks are killed globally each day, a rate of nearly 100 million every year, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. On Monday, Pugh called the decimation of sharks an 'ecocide.' 'I think protecting sharks is the most important part of the jigsaw puzzle of protecting the oceans,' he said. 'Jaws,' which was filmed in Edgartown, and called Amity Island for the movie, created Hollywood's blockbuster culture when it was released in summer 1975, setting new box office records and earning three Academy Awards. The movie would shape views of the ocean for decades to come. Both director Steven Spielberg and author Peter Benchley expressed regret that viewers of the film became so afraid of sharks, and both later contributed to conservation efforts as their populations declined, largely due to commercial fishing. Pugh's endeavor also coincided with the New England Aquarium's first confirmed sighting this season of a white shark, off the nearby island of Nantucket. As a precaution, Pugh was accompanied on his swim by safety personnel in a boat and a kayak, whose paddler is using a 'Shark Shield' device to create a low-intensity electric field in the water to deter sharks without harming them. There were no shark sightings along Pugh's journey, but he said he saw sun fish, seals and terns. He now plans to travel to New York for a few days to do interviews about the swim and discuss shark conservation before returning to his home of Plymouth, England. 'Now the real hard work starts, which is getting this message to policy makers,' Pugh said.
CNN
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Athlete tries first-ever swim around Martha's Vineyard near sharks, raising awareness about the endangered, maligned animals for ‘Jaws' 50th anniversary
Lewis Pugh has followed an unspoken rule during his career as one of the world's most daring endurance swimmers: Don't talk about sharks. But he plans to break that this week on a swim around Martha's Vineyard, where ' Jaws' was filmed 50 years ago. The British-South African was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world — and has taken on extreme conditions everywhere from Mount Everest to the Arctic. 'On this swim, it's very different: We're just talking about sharks all the time,' joked Pugh, who will, as usual, wear no wetsuit for the 62-mile (100-kilometer) swim. For his swim around Martha's Vineyard in 47-degree (8-degree Celsius) water he will wear just trunks, a cap and goggles. Pugh, 55, is undertaking the challenge because he wants to change public perception around the now at-risk animals — which he said were maligned by the blockbuster film as 'villains, as cold-blooded killers.' He will urge for more protection for sharks. 'We need to protect life in our oceans — all our futures rely on it,' he said on Thursday before starting out from a beach in front of the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse and swimming an initial 3.9 miles (6.2 kilometers) for nearly three hours. On Friday, he'll get in the water and swim again — and again, for an estimated 12 days, or however long it takes him to complete the swim. He'll spend the rest of his time on the Vineyard educating the public about sharks. Later Thursday, he crawled out of the water, where curious seals bobbed in the waves, and onto a boat to warm up and refuel. He began his endeavor just after the New England Aquarium confirmed the first white shark sighting of the season, earlier this week off the coast of Nantucket. 'It's going to test me not only physically, but also mentally,' he said, while scoping out wind conditions by the starting line earlier this week. 'I mean every single day I'm going to be speaking about sharks, sharks, sharks, sharks. Then, ultimately, I've got to get in the water afterwards and do the swim. I suppose you can imagine what I'll be thinking about.' Pugh said the swim will be among the most difficult he's undertaken, which says a lot for someone who has swum near glaciers and volcanoes, and among hippos, crocodiles and polar bears. No one has ever swum around the island of Martha's Vineyard before. But Pugh, who often swims to raise awareness for environmental causes — and has been named the United Nations Patron of the Oceans for several years — said no swim is without risk and that drastic measures are needed to get his message across: Around 274,000 sharks are killed globally each day — a rate of 100 million every year, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 'It was a film about sharks attacking humans and for 50 years, we have been attacking sharks,' he said of 'Jaws.' 'It's completely unsustainable. It's madness. We need to respect them.' He emphasized the swim is not something nonprofessionals should attempt. He's accompanied by safety personnel in a boat and kayak and uses a 'Shark Shield' device that deters sharks using an electric field without harming them. Pugh remembers feeling fear as a 16-year-old watching 'Jaws' for the first time. Over decades of study and research, awe and respect have replaced his fear, as he realized the role they play in maintaining Earth's increasingly fragile ecosystems. 'I'm more terrified of a world without sharks, or without predators,' he said. 'Jaws' is credited for creating Hollywood's blockbuster culture when it was released in summer 1975, becoming the highest grossing film up until that time and earning three Academy Awards. It would impact how many viewed the ocean for decades to come. Both director Steven Spielberg and author Peter Benchley have expressed regret over the impact of the film on viewers' perception of sharks. Both have since contributed to conservation efforts for animals, which have seen populations depleted due to factors like overfishing and climate change. Discovery Channel and the National Geographic Channel each year release programming about sharks to educate the public about the predator. Greg Skomal, marine fisheries biologist at Martha's Vineyard Fisheries within the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, said many people tell him they still won't swim in the ocean because of the sheer terror caused by the film. 'I tend to hear the expression that, 'I haven't gone in the water since 'Jaws' came out,'' he said. But Skomal, who published a book challenging the film's inaccuracies, said 'Jaws' also inspired many people — including him — to study marine biology, leading to increased research, acceptance and respect for the creatures. If 'Jaws' were made today, he doesn't think it'd have the same effect. But in the 1970s, 'it was just perfect in terms of generating this level of fear to a public that was largely uneducated about sharks, because we were uneducated. Scientists didn't know a lot about sharks.' Skomal said the biggest threat contributing to the decline of the shark population now is commercial fishing, which exploded in the late 1970s and is today driven by high demand for fins and meat used in food dishes, as well as the use of skin to make leather and oil and cartilage for cosmetics. 'I think we've really moved away from this feeling, or the old adage that, 'The only good shark is a dead shark,'' he said. 'We're definitely morphing from fear to fascination, or perhaps a combination of both.'
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Endurance swimmer is attempting first-ever swim around Martha's Vineyard ahead of ‘Jaws' anniversary
A family walks to the span of the American Legion Memorial Bridge, also known as the "Jaws Bridge," while spending the day fishing, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard Island. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. — Lewis Pugh has followed an unspoken rule during his career as one of the world's most daring endurance swimmers: Don't talk about sharks. But he plans to break that this week on a swim around Martha's Vineyard, where 'Jaws' was filmed 50 years ago. The British-South African was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world — and has taken on extreme conditions everywhere from Mount Everest to the Arctic. 'On this swim, it's very different: We're just talking about sharks all the time,' joked Pugh, who will, as usual, wear no wetsuit. For his swim around Martha's Vineyard in 47-degree (8-degree Celsius) water he will wear just trunks, a cap and goggles. Pugh, 55, is undertaking the challenge because he wants to change public perception around the now at-risk animals — which he said were maligned by the blockbuster film as 'villains, as cold-blooded killers.' He will urge for more protection for sharks. On Thursday, beginning at the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, he will swim for three or four hours in the brutally cold surf, mark his progress and spend the rest of his waking hours on the Vineyard educating the public about sharks. Then, he'll get in the water and do it again — and again, for an estimated 12 days, or however long it takes him to complete the 62-mile (100-kilometre) swim. He begins the journey just after the New England Aquarium confirmed the first white shark sighting of the season, earlier this week off the coast of Nantucket. 'It's going to test me not only physically, but also mentally,' he said, while scoping out wind conditions by the starting line. 'I mean every single day I'm going to be speaking about sharks, sharks, sharks, sharks. Then, ultimately, I've got to get in the water afterwards and do the swim. I suppose you can imagine what I'll be thinking about.' A world without predators Pugh said the swim will be among the most difficult he's undertaken, which says a lot for someone who has swum near glaciers and volcanoes, and among hippos, crocodiles and polar bears. No one has ever swum around the island of Martha's Vineyard before. But Pugh, who often swims to raise awareness for environmental causes — and has been named the United Nations Patron of the Oceans for several years — said no swim is without risk and that drastic measures are needed to get his message across: Around 274,000 sharks are killed globally each day — a rate of 100 million every year, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 'It was a film about sharks attacking humans and for 50 years, we have been attacking sharks,' he said of 'Jaws.' 'It's completely unsustainable. It's madness. We need to respect them.' He emphasizes that the swim is not something nonprofessionals should attempt. He's accompanied by safety personnel in a boat and kayak and uses a 'Shark Shield' device that deters sharks using an electric field without harming them. Pugh remembers feeling fear as a 16-year-old watching 'Jaws' for the first time. Over decades of study and research, awe and respect have replaced his fear, as he realized the role they play in maintaining Earth's increasingly fragile ecosystems. 'I'm more terrified of a world without sharks, or without predators,' he said. The 'Jaws' effect on sharks 'Jaws' is credited for creating Hollywood's blockbuster culture when it was released in summer 1975, becoming the highest grossing film up until that time and earning three Academy Awards. It would impact how many viewed the ocean for decades to come. Both director Steven Spielberg and author Peter Benchley have expressed regret over the impact of the film on viewers' perception of sharks. Both have since contributed to conservation efforts for animals, which have seen populations depleted due to factors like overfishing and climate change. Discovery Channel and the National Geographic Channel each year release programming about sharks to educate the public about the predator. Greg Skomal, marine fisheries biologist at Martha's Vineyard Fisheries within the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, said many people tell him they still won't swim in the ocean because of the sheer terror caused by the film. 'I tend to hear the expression that, 'I haven't gone in the water since 'Jaws' came out,'' he said. But Skomal, who published a book challenging the film's inaccuracies, said 'Jaws' also inspired many people — including him — to study marine biology, leading to increased research, acceptance and respect for the creatures. If 'Jaws' were made today, he doesn't think it'd have the same effect. But in the 1970s, 'it was just perfect in terms of generating this level of fear to a public that was largely uneducated about sharks, because we were uneducated. Scientists didn't know a lot about sharks.' Skomal said the biggest threat contributing to the decline of the shark population now is commercial fishing, which exploded in the late 1970s and is today driven by high demand for fins and meat used in food dishes, as well as the use of skin to make leather and oil and cartilage for cosmetics. 'I think we've really moved away from this feeling, or the old adage that, 'The only good shark is a dead shark,'' he said. 'We're definitely morphing from fear to fascination, or perhaps a combination of both.' ___ Leah Willingham, The Associated Press
