DEEP FEAR
America’s most terrifying shark attacks after disturbing spike in maulings saw swimmers bitten only feet from beach
Experts believe that the destruction of several ecosystems has forced sharks to change their migrating patterns
SHARK attacks, though often rare, have seen a dramatic increase in occurrence over recent years.
Seven surfers off the coast of Australia had been killed by sharks in 2020 alone.
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According to The Business Standard, the last time the country faced such a brutal attack by sharks was in 1934.
Shark experts hypothesize that the increase in attacks is due to the ongoing climate crisis.
Here are some of the most gruesome shark attacks.
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 2024
An exclusive video obtained by The U.S. Sun showed a giant shark swimming in the waters a short distance from swimmers.
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A 21-year-old man was bitten by a shark in New Smyrna Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast.
The unidentified man was in knee-deep water when he was attacked at about 4 pm, Tamra Malphurs, interim director of Volusia County Beach Safety, told NBC News.
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS - JULY 2024
Four people were attacked by the ferocious creatures on the Fourth of July.
A dramatic clip shows the aftermath of one of the four attacks on the barrier island of the southwest shore of Texas.
Most read in The US Sun
The one-minute-long video shows the woman lying on the sand while the predator swims back and forth near the shoreline.
Rescuers rush to her aid, as they try to stem the bleeding from a wound on her leg.
Blood can be seen in the waves as the victim appears to be in shock following the attack.
Texas Parks and Wildlife, who run the beach, confirmed that a man was also "severely bitten in the leg and taken to hospital."
SOUTH AUSTRALIA - January 1974
Terrance Manuel was diving for abalone in Streaky Bay when a shark attacked shortly after 1 pm and bit off his leg above the thigh.
John Talbot, Manuel's friend, attempted to rescue him but was unable to prevent the attack and was instead forced to watch as Manuel bled to death in the water.
USS INDIANAPOLIS - JULY 1945
In July 1945, the USS Indianapolis — which carried a crew of 900— was attacked by a Japanese warship and was split in two.
When rescuers arrived at the spot four days later, they found 579 men dead with many of them being chewed to bits.
According to one of the 316 survivors, "The sharks were around, hundreds of them...Everything would be quiet and then you'd hear somebody scream and you knew a shark had got him."
NEW JERSEY - 1916
Four people were killed in a spate of shark attacks along the coast of New Jersey during a heatwave in 1916.
The first victim, 25-year-old Charles Vansant, bled to death after sharks stripped the flesh off his thigh as he went for an early evening swim.
Five days later, Charles Bruder, 27, was killed after a shark tore into his abdomen and severed his legs.
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On July 12, two people were killed by a shark when Lester Stillwell, a 12-year-old boy, was dragged underwater as he splashed in the creek with friends.
Stanley Fisher, 24, plunged into the water to search for Stillwell but was himself attacked by the shark and bled to death.
What to do if you see a shark in the water
Below, find a helpful guid on what to do if you find yourself in the water near a shark
- Remain Calm
- If fishing, release any bait you may have that is attached to your rod.
- Get out of the way
- Team up with other swimmers who might be close by
- Brace yourself to possibly fight
- Should you have to fight a shark, aim for sensitive parts of the body
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