Anyone else hate the ocean? I really, really, hate the ocean. Not in a “Man, I wish that didn’t exist” kind of way, but in a “I’m never, ever, going swimming in that dark abyss of death,” kind of way. I mean, we don’t really even know all of the different kind of life forms that exist in its depths. You can’t tell me all of the accounts by sailors over the years of sea monsters is all bull manure. That many people sharing similar stories who never even met each other? Yeah, that sounds like there’s some truth to the tales.
And even without the existence of mythical creatures like the kraken or sea serpents, what about killer whales and sharks? I think those are terrifying enough, don’t you?
Speaking of sharks, did you know that a British man was attacked last Friday in the Caribbean by one of Jaws’ long lost cousins? The attack, according to the Daily Caller, forced the government of Trinidad & Tobago to close down seven beaches.
Peter Smith, 64, was swimming just over 30 feet from the shore in Courland Bay, Trinidad & Tobago, when a bull shark attacked him, the BBC reported. He is currently in intensive care at the island’s Scarborough General Hospital and in stable condition, according to BBC.
A British tourist seriously injured in a shark attack off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago is "aware of what is happening and can communicate", according to his wife https://t.co/thblCAomuw
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 29, 2024
“Peter has suffered damage to his left arm and leg, puncture wounds to the abdomen and injuries to his right hand, the full extent of which are still being evaluated,” Smith’s wife said to reporters from the BBC. Man, this fellow got thoroughly munched on this menace of the deep blue sea.
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine of the Tobago House of Assembly said Smith suffered “significant wounds” and had to have some fingers reattached. The bull shark that attacked Smith was allegedly 10 feet long and 2 feet wide, the BBC reported. While the BBC does not claim that Smith lost an arm or a leg, several outlets, including Great Britain News, report that Smith lost his left arm and left leg during the attack.
Water Sports Manager at Starfish Hotel Orion Jakerov witnessed the shark attack which took place at Turtle Beach in Tobago. He gave TTT News an account of what he described as a freak accident. Video Credit: Caricia Douglas pic.twitter.com/QTIQnKirJS
— TTT Live Online (@tttliveonline) April 26, 2024
How is being attacked by a shark a freak accident? You go into the shark’s world and flop about like a seal and this predator of the waves thinks you look like a tasty nom-nom, thus it goes, well, nom-nom. This is not an accident. It’s a shark doing what sharks do. When we enter their territory, their space, we need to take precautions and act accordingly. I’m not saying the incident was the victim’s fault. I’m just saying that things like this happen and it’s not an accident. That shark wanted a snacky-snack and he almost got one that just happened to be person flavored.
A $10,000 reward was offered to anyone who could relocate the shark. Additionally, officials closed seven beaches and used drones to survey the area, according to the BBC. Bull sharks are widely considered the most dangerous kind of shark due to their aggressiveness and tendency to swim up rivers, says the National Wildlife Federation.
I think “Jaws,” and “47 Meters Down” should be required viewing material for anyone considering going diving or surfing in the ocean, just so you know what you’re getting yourself into, potentially.