There's been around 60 (of which around 20% proved fatal) shark attacks in 2025. You're far more likely to be attacked by a dog (or even a cow) but few things conjure fear like an approaching fin. Take a look at...
Now being sunk was bad, but the situation was about to become much worse. Drawn by the explosions and scent of spilt blood, sharks began to gather around the survivors. Initially the marine predators focused on the dead (after all, the meat was still fresh and didn't fight back) but once the corpses ran out, the injured were next on the menu. Sailors had to make the grim choice of distancing themselves from bleeding comrades if they wanted to be less interesting prey for the fish.
All the mariners could do was huddle in groups and hope for rescue before they were attacked. Even opening rations brought great peril - one group opened a can of spam and the scent of the salted-meat slurry drew a swarm of sharks down upon them.
It wasn't until four days after the sinking that they were spotted by a naval plane. Hours later, a seaplane commanded by Lieutenant Marks began dropping rafts and supplies. Marks even defied his orders upon seeing the sharks and made an aquatic landing, attempting to get as many of the wounded on board as he could. Only 317 sailors survived - estimates suggest that up to 150 of the lost were directly killed by sharks, rather than dying of wounds or exposure.
The 33 year old was cut in half by the savage bite of a great white shark. Her horrified family watched the attack play out 150 yards away - and locals had to prevent her frantic husband from charging into the water. They witnessed her headless torso briefly bob to the surface - before the beast returned and consumed that as well. Authorities were only able to find a single swim fin in the aftermath.
Shirley Durdin remains one of the few unfortunates to have been both attacked and eaten by a great white shark. In a cruel twist, the family had only recently moved to the coast - they'd moved as Barry had an allergy to the farm animals found inland.
The first victim was Charles Vansant, who was swimming near the resort town of Beach Haven - an unseen creature tore a chunk of flesh from his leg and he quickly bled to death. There was uncertainty about what actually attacked him - some locals even speculated he was the extremely unfortunate victim of a snapping turtle that mistook his leg for a fish.
Five days later in Spring Lake, Charles Bruder was likewise fatally bitten. The killer fish moved on, reappearing a few days later in the inland Matawan Creek, taking the young Lester Stillwell and later killing Stanley Fisher who'd joined a search party. Joseph Dunn was bitten a mere half hour later, but managed to survive the injury. Two days later, a pair of fishermen killed a shark as it tried to make a meal of them. The corpse was identified as a (great) white shark containing 15 pounds of human flesh... though there is some speculation about the accuracy of the reports.
This series of attacks is at least partially behind the modern view of sharks as relentless killers lurking behind every patch of seaweed for an unsuspecting swimmer. The horror book and movie Jaws depict a very similar set of events - though the author claimed it was unrelated.
The Seychelles Tourism Board director claimed that the attack was a freak accident, but the reality was that a similar attack had occurred a mere two weeks earlier off the same bit of coast. This second attack was enough to prompt authorities to stop divers operating in the area and attempt to hunt the animal down. Needless to say, few people were impressed by the lack of transparency.
Brook Watson - Shark Survivor, Banker, Soldier, SpyBrook Watson had quite the eventful life. As a teenager he served on a merchant ship running between the West Indies and Massachusetts running between the West Indies and Massachusetts... and was attacked by a shark while taking a swim in Havana, Cuba.
Watson actually had his brush with death depicted in a painting by John Singleton Copley. The work depicts comrades reaching for Watson, while another sailor balances on the prow to strike at the charging shark with a barbed harpoon. Blood stains the water near the obscured right leg of Watson, testament to his injuries. He left the piece to Christ's Hospital in London, hoping that it would be "a most useful lesson to youth" though it probably gave them nightmares instead!
- The Deadliest Shark Attack in History
- Shirley Durdin - Eaten by a Great White
- Real Life "Jaws" - The Jersey Shore Attacks
- Ian Redmond - Killed in "Safe" Waters
- Brook Watson - Shark Survivor, Banker, Soldier, Spy
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| Step into the water... (Fgyongyver) |
The Deadliest Shark Attack in History
The year is 1945 and the U.S.S Indianapolis is sailing without an escort. She's just delivered a shipment of atomic bomb components to an island base in the Pacific - and she's let her guard down. This proves to be a deadly mistake when an ambushing submarine lands two torpedo hits, igniting fuel tanks and detonating the magazine. Around 900 men escape into the water as the silent hunter slips away.Now being sunk was bad, but the situation was about to become much worse. Drawn by the explosions and scent of spilt blood, sharks began to gather around the survivors. Initially the marine predators focused on the dead (after all, the meat was still fresh and didn't fight back) but once the corpses ran out, the injured were next on the menu. Sailors had to make the grim choice of distancing themselves from bleeding comrades if they wanted to be less interesting prey for the fish.
All the mariners could do was huddle in groups and hope for rescue before they were attacked. Even opening rations brought great peril - one group opened a can of spam and the scent of the salted-meat slurry drew a swarm of sharks down upon them.
It wasn't until four days after the sinking that they were spotted by a naval plane. Hours later, a seaplane commanded by Lieutenant Marks began dropping rafts and supplies. Marks even defied his orders upon seeing the sharks and made an aquatic landing, attempting to get as many of the wounded on board as he could. Only 317 sailors survived - estimates suggest that up to 150 of the lost were directly killed by sharks, rather than dying of wounds or exposure.
Shirley Durdin - Eaten by a Great White
Back in 1985 Shirley Ann Durdin was swimming off the coast of Peake Bay in South Australia. Her husband Barry and their children were playing on the beach, and all seemed normal - until something dragged her beneath the water.The 33 year old was cut in half by the savage bite of a great white shark. Her horrified family watched the attack play out 150 yards away - and locals had to prevent her frantic husband from charging into the water. They witnessed her headless torso briefly bob to the surface - before the beast returned and consumed that as well. Authorities were only able to find a single swim fin in the aftermath.
Shirley Durdin remains one of the few unfortunates to have been both attacked and eaten by a great white shark. In a cruel twist, the family had only recently moved to the coast - they'd moved as Barry had an allergy to the farm animals found inland.
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| You can see why sharks have an intimidating reputation... (shahart) |
Real Life "Jaws" - The Jersey Shore Attacks
Did you know that sharks weren't always considered that dangerous (by non-sailors, anyway.) That's why an aquatic killing spree in 1916 was quite so shocking for the inhabitants of New Jersey.The first victim was Charles Vansant, who was swimming near the resort town of Beach Haven - an unseen creature tore a chunk of flesh from his leg and he quickly bled to death. There was uncertainty about what actually attacked him - some locals even speculated he was the extremely unfortunate victim of a snapping turtle that mistook his leg for a fish.
Five days later in Spring Lake, Charles Bruder was likewise fatally bitten. The killer fish moved on, reappearing a few days later in the inland Matawan Creek, taking the young Lester Stillwell and later killing Stanley Fisher who'd joined a search party. Joseph Dunn was bitten a mere half hour later, but managed to survive the injury. Two days later, a pair of fishermen killed a shark as it tried to make a meal of them. The corpse was identified as a (great) white shark containing 15 pounds of human flesh... though there is some speculation about the accuracy of the reports.
This series of attacks is at least partially behind the modern view of sharks as relentless killers lurking behind every patch of seaweed for an unsuspecting swimmer. The horror book and movie Jaws depict a very similar set of events - though the author claimed it was unrelated.
Ian Redmond - Killed in "Safe" Waters
In 2011, Ian Redmond was vacationing with his newly wed wife on Anse Lazio beach in the Seychelles. He'd gone out into the water to snorkel and see some sea life - but got more than he bargained for when a shark tore off his arm and shredded his hip. Two men on a catamaran helped him to shore where he received first aid from a holidaying doctor, but these efforts were in vain - he bled to death.The Seychelles Tourism Board director claimed that the attack was a freak accident, but the reality was that a similar attack had occurred a mere two weeks earlier off the same bit of coast. This second attack was enough to prompt authorities to stop divers operating in the area and attempt to hunt the animal down. Needless to say, few people were impressed by the lack of transparency.
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| That's one way to get a peg leg... (katinamyers) |
The predatory fish managed to remove his right foot and mangle his calf before a rescue launch of sailors could drive the beast off and save him. As if the day wasn't bad enough, he then had to endure 1749 maritime surgery to remove his shredded leg below the knee.
Watson defied the odds and survived, going on to become an influential figure in British politics and banking. He also spent a stint in the military and may have been involved in espionage towards America!
Watson actually had his brush with death depicted in a painting by John Singleton Copley. The work depicts comrades reaching for Watson, while another sailor balances on the prow to strike at the charging shark with a barbed harpoon. Blood stains the water near the obscured right leg of Watson, testament to his injuries. He left the piece to Christ's Hospital in London, hoping that it would be "a most useful lesson to youth" though it probably gave them nightmares instead!
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