‘I Actually Thought It Was a Dolphin’: Surfer Attacked by a Great White Shark Speaks Out
- Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:47am by
Liz Klimas
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An increase of great white shark attacks have some wondering if the population should continue under its protected status. (Photo: Wikimedia)
In April, a 20-year-old surfer off the coast of South Africa was killed by a great white shark. Fast forward to two weeks ago, another surfer was bitten in half in an attack off the coast of Australia.
In Western Australia, five people have been killed in 10 months. In South Africa, there have been more than 130 people attacked since the 1990s — 22 of these attacks were fatal. Jacques Mostert is one of the lucky survivors of an attack that occurred at the beginning of July. He is now sharing the harrowing details of how he tried to protect himself and even made peace with the situation as he thought he would die.
(Related: Check out other stories on The Blaze of recent shark attacks)
Jacques Mostert is laid up in bed with an injury that resulted from a shark attack off of South Africa. (Image: CNN screenshot)
In an interview with CNN, Mostert explained how he first thought it was a dolphin that passed by him. By the time he realized it was a great white, he said pulled his surf board closer toward his body, but he was he was soon being shaken by the shark. As the shark circled him a second time, Mostert said “I just prayed. I‘m a Christian and at that moment I was like ’OK God, if this is the way I need to go, then I can go.’”
Watch the report:
Ultimately, it was a large wave that came along that saved Mostert. It enabled him to quickly paddle away from the shark and to shore.
A string of shark attacks around the world has some wondering if sharks should even be protected, as many are. The Sydney Morning Herald provides several opinions between that of a conservationist, a hunter, a researcher and a victim discussing this question. The conservationist believes there are still many unknowns about the great white shark, meriting its protection. The researcher doesn’t see a correlation between shark conservation and increased safety. He said increased safety measures and awareness for surfers and beach goers is what really could result in a more peaceful relationship between sharks and humans. Even the victim, who spoke out in the opinion piece, said he realizes he and other surfers are only visitors to the sharks habitat and wouldn’t advocate culling sharks to reduce attacks.
The hunter believes sharks aren’t really being protected for conservation reasons — nor do they need it. He said they are merely being protected for lucrative cage diving activities. Many believe this activity is what is increasing shark attacks as a whole in the first place.
Some blame cage diving activities as increasing the sharks' propensity to attack humans. (Photo: Wikimedia)
Either way, the shark attacks do not seem to keep surfers from the water — even Mostert. He said, “for me to stay out of the water is going to be difficult.”
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 5:39pmMore PC. If that were a black shark….no one would mention the color and they would blame it on the surfer……(smile)
Report Post »CRWHITLOCK
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:47pmThese are natural creatures, in their natural environment, doing exactly what they were built to do. Humans know full well that the waters off of South Africa and Australia are abundant with great white sharks. They also know that riding a surf board makes them a close resemblence to the seals these animals eat to survive. That is an adult decision to place one’s self in danger for the opporunity to have a thrilling experience. The sharks are no more to blame than the ground is to blame when someone jumps out of a plane and their parachute doesn’t open. Suggesting that we should kill one of the most amazing animals the earth has ever known because of this astronomically small percentage of humans being injured or killed while doing something they chose to do is a demonstration of the irrational ignorance of our species.
Report Post »John655
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 4:36pmYou know what animal is even more amazing then the shark? Man. And 1 man is more valuble then 100 Sharks. And no I’m not advocating killing all sharks, but trivializing the deaths of humans is very cold. If that wasn‘t your intent then I apologize but that’s how it reads to me.
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:53pm“Ultimately, it was a large wave that came along that saved Mostert. It enabled him to quickly paddle away from the shark and to shore.”
This line was written wrong…the line before this was:
“As the shark circled him a second time, Mostert said “I just prayed. I‘m a Christian and at that moment I was like ’OK God, if this is the way I need to go, then I can go.’”
So shouldn’t the line that followed say, “It appears God heard his prayer and sent a huge wave to push him away from the shark and save his life.” Shame on the Blaze for missing such a great opportunity to proclaim the miracle of God saving this young man’s life.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:37pmAre there sounds that will repel sharks? Just thinking out loud how to prevent more shark attacks. I have read that a surfer looks like a seal to a shark. Maybe change the shape of a surf board or release a shark repelling scent into the water.
Report Post »rightwingheroes
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:40amWant to solve the problem then just ask the most interesting man in the world. After all, sharks have a week dedicated to him.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:19pmGood call!!!!!! He actually attacks sharks!!!
Report Post »exfire
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:35amI’m sorry this happened to these people….BUT…they were swimming on the sharks dinner plate !!
Report Post »Yeah_Buddy
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:28amMaybe when there are more surfers out there as shark food, the shark population can grow even bigger and perhaps one day we won’t need to protect those poor, defensless sharks anymore.
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:10amSharks will know better than to attack humans when they swim in the Reagan Sea.
Report Post »Tirabi
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:27amLOL, nice :)
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:08amMy, what shiny white teeth and large jaws you have Mr. Dolph……… AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:06amYup…Flipper got dentures.
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:54amWhy the heck does everything have to be analyzed to death. It’s a damn Shark. He’s an eating machine……….that’s it. Gosh.
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:07amExactly and the ocean is their home. And if you chose to surf you’re also chosing to risk more than a board rash or coral cut.
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:54amMy husband and I used to surf until we moved away to an area because of a job that was not close to the ocean anymore. I was bumped by a shark in Oregon at Pacific City way back in the 92. I remember saying to myself, “I wish that were a dolphin”. I knew immediately by the appearance that it was not a dolphin.
Report Post »I do believe that there are going to be way more shark attacks and fatalities. In the book of Revelation, there is a scripture that says that men will be killed by the “beasts” of the earth. Whether this can be a man beast or animal beast or both we will find out.
OUTRIDER WRITER
Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:02pmor maybe even fire ants…. : )
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