Random Things about What It's Like to Be Attacked by a Shark (17 items)

• 

  (#9) Those Who Try to Rescue You Risk Being Attacked Themselves

  So, let's say you're a shark. You've got this seal (or so you think) that you're about to chow down on; you've already mostly disabled it; and you're ready for that well-earned meal. All of a sudden, another seal (or some such creature) steps in and tries to drag your dinner away! What are you to do?

  Well, of course, you're going to attack the thing stealing your kill! That is a serious problem for rescuers in the water during shark attacks. Not only does the shark see your rescuer as another prey animal, but it is also definitely willing to defend its kill. If you're lucky, the shark might just swim between you and your rescuer as a sign to say "back off" rather than simply attacking them.
• 

  (#16) It Could Take Minutes To Get You To Shore

  Minutes don't sound like much, but they can feel like a very long time when you're bleeding out in the middle of the ocean. Assuming your rescuers can get to you, assuming more sharks don't come in for the kill, assuming you're not dragged underwater again, and assuming you're still alive when they reach you, many times the people trying to help are just swimmers. This means they have to swim you all the way back to shore. If you're lucky, there might be a boat or a jet-ski in the vicinity, but even then, it might seem like an eternity.

  If you're very lucky, you might be able to swim some of the way yourself, but after you're back on land, it could still take you half an hour or more to even get to the hospital.
• 

  (#14) Your Body Temperature Is Going To Drop

  The good news here is that sharks rarely consume people. In most attacks, several bites are the worst of it, and maybe a missing limb. However, after you're bitten, you're going to be bleeding, and you might go into shock. The open ocean is not an ideal location for this to happen. Seeing as you're in water that's most likely somewhat cold, your body temperature is going to start to drop. Part of that is going to be the blood loss, and many shark attack victims quickly develop hypothermia.

  But sometimes hypothermia can work to your advantage: cold temperatures help your blood clot faster, and when every drop counts, hypothermia can actually save your life.
• 

  (#1) Sharks Actually Don't Want To Bite You, But They Will

  Contrary to popular belief, sharks are actually not mindless killing machines. Sharks have particular tastes, and while blood makes them a little nuts, their regular prey is seals, sea lions, fish, and lots of other things aside from humans. The fact is, we don't taste good, and neither do our wetsuits, our surfboards, or our diving gear, so it's very likely that if a shark bites you, it won't go back for seconds. They just give you an initial bite because they're confused. It's even less likely that the shark will actually try to eat you, which is why most deaths from shark attacks happen back on shore or in the hospital. 
• 

  (#8) You May Hear Your Bones Breaking

  Sharks have really strong jaws. Scientists have estimated that a great white can exert 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi) with a single bite, though it's never been properly tested. Because of that, when a shark bites you, it's going to do two things: try to gnaw a piece off of you, and bite down as hard as it possibly can. One surfer, Kenny Doudt, who was attacked by a shark and barely survived, knows exactly how that feels first-hand: 

  I was not yet fully aware of what was happening. I felt tremendous pressure on my chest and heard ribs snapping and the crunching of the underside on my board as it (the shark) turned out to sea. I felt totally helpless.

  So, imagine feeling your body being crushed and cut at the same time, and imagine feeling too confused and helpless to do anything about it. That's what it's like to be bitten by a shark.
• 

  (#4) They Might Just Be Trying To Show You Who's Boss

  Some scientists believe that sharks will gently bite other animals as a show of dominance, rather than trying to eat them. In other words, the shark perceives you as a threat or as another shark trying to cut in on its turf, and is trying to tell you to get lost. Those kinds of bites aren't even really meant to kill, just to let you know they're there. Unfortunately for us, sharks have giant scary many-toothed mouths, and even a little bite can do some serious damage. 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking