By Pete Thomas/ GrindTv
Footage recently emerged showing a large hammerhead shark pursuing prey off Destin, Florida, with two people standing close by in the shallows.
There were no injuries to the waders–the shark was going after a stingray–but a media frenzy nonetheless ensued.
“Couple have terrifying escape from mammoth hammerhead share,” screams one of dozens of headlines atop stories posted over the weekend.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLG2v8yD0Fk?feature=player_detailpage]
“See lucky escape for swimming couple who don’t notice the hammerhead shark just feet away,” reads another headline that implies the shark might have gone after the waders had they not eventually scurried toward shore.
The sensationalistic approach is working. The video, shot by Scott McCain from the 19th floor of an oceanfront hotel, had garnered nearly 2 million views as of Monday afternoon.
The footage shows a fairly large hammerhead (perhaps 9 or 10 feet; not “mammoth”) pursuing a stingray into shallow green water.
More than likely, the shark was never aware of the presence of people, and shark experts probably would agree that even if the hammerhead had been aware, it posed little or no danger, as the predator was focused entirely on capturing one of this species’ favorite snacks.
What’s unique about the footage, however, is the theater-like atmosphere, and the amusing commentary as the shark approached the swimmers.
McCain told NOLA.com that it was like “you’re about to see a car wreck.”
He was with eight friends who had gathered in Destin for a bachelor party, and this episode became one of the highlights.
"Shark! Get out the water!" one of the friends yells to the waders, to no avail. They were too high up to be heard.
Finally, after the hammerhead broke water during a lunge toward the elusive stingray, the waders became frightened and ran to shore.
The hammerhead chased the stingray into knee-deep water and ultimately claimed its prize.
When the video began going viral, Florida-based shark expert David Shiffman stated on Facebook , in reference to one of the headlines mentioned above: “For crying out loud this hammerhead was chasing a stingray not people.”
To be sure, the stingray had the most right to be terrified, but its worries seem to be over.
