Off the coast of New Zealand, some fishermen thought they could use their fishing rods without making too many waves. What they didn't count on was a mako shark that was in the vicinity. The shark literally pounced on the boat, causing panic among the people on board. The scene was filmed by one of the sailors.
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A hungry shark
Everything happened very quickly. In a video that has gone viral on social networks, a man wearing a cap can be seen fishing for mackerel off Whitianga, in northern New Zealand. So far, so good. But as he leans back to avoid being swept away by a potentially massive catch, everything changes.
You're gonna need a bigger boat.
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) November 8, 2022
Astonishing footage captures the moment a Mako shark launches itself onto a fishing boat, coming face-to-face with shocked fishermen. #9News
MORE: https://t.co/h74waey8AWpic.twitter.com/tPwpqEUqow
A two-metre Mako shark, attracted by the bait, jumps in front of the boat! Interviewed by 9News, the skipper of the boat says:
We were all shocked but everyone reacted better than I imagined - we were safe as we were protected by the windshield at the front.
The shark weighed about 150 kilograms
One can imagine the fright that the passengers on the boat had. In the video, you can hear their astonishment. After all, witnessing such a spectacle must have been a shock. Even the skipper, who is used to these waters, admits his surprise:
It was crazy - this has never happened before - I've never seen anything like it in all my years of being on the water. He estimated it weighed 150 kilograms.
Fortunately, there was more fear than harm, both for the sailors and the shark. After struggling for two long minutes, the shark managed to dive back into the water without injury.
This article was translated from Gentside FR.
Sources used:
-9News: 'Crazy moment': Huge shark leaps on board fishing boat
