Quick Take
- The hammerhead's charge had nothing to do with the man, and what it was actually targeting makes the video far more unsettling. See what it was targeting →
- Something invisible in the water caused the shark to veer off at the last second, and the diver's reaction had nothing to do with it. Watch the last-second veer →
- Most shark encounters don't end in attacks, though one specific behavior can flip that equation fast. Know the danger signs →
- Hammerhead sharks have a global fatality record that might completely change how you think about their reputation. Check the fatality record →
Shark attacks can be terrifying, but luckily, they are not a common occurrence. This is especially true when it comes to hammerhead sharks. In the state of Florida, there have been no fatalities from an unprovoked hammerhead attack. So why, in this Instagram post by @amazing.sharks.return, does one charge at a human? Turns out, the shark was hunting something else entirely!
Globally, there have been zero recorded human fatalities as a result from an unprovoked hammerhead shark attack.
©bcampbell65/Shutterstock.com
Hammerhead Shark Attack?
The video above might look like an attach if you don’t know what’s going on. In the footage, a man is standing in the ocean at Panama City Beach, Florida. A hammerhead shark swimming close by quickly charges at the man for seemingly no reason. While it looks like the shark is attacking the man, it was actually hunting a nearby ray. It’s difficult to see, but as the ray gets closer to the human, the shark actually turns away so as not to run into the man.
Hammerhead sharks are not normally interested in humans beyond simple curiosity. Sharks do not typically regard humans as prey, and the shark attacks that occur are more out of defense or mistaking humans for prey. In the state of Florida, there have been a total of 17 unprovoked attacks from hammerheads with no fatalities. However, if you see one of these sharks in the water, it’s best to keep your distance.
If you find yourself sharing water with a shark, there are a few things you can do to stay safe. The first is to keep the shark in sight at all times. Avoid turning away and panicking, as that can escalate into an attack. Stay calm and slowly move towards the shore. Your goal should be getting out of the water as calmly as possible. While attack rates may be low, sharks can become extremely dangerous when actively hunting. Thankfully for the man in the video above, the shark left him alone and continued with its ray hunt.
