Tourist Nash Core admitted that he felt fearful when he and his 11-year-old son entered the ocean off the Australian coast to aid in the rescue of a stranded three-meter great white shark.
Near the coastal town of Ardrossan in South Australia, three local men managed to return the distressed animal to deeper waters after a nearly hour-long rescue effort on Tuesday.
Core, who was visiting from the Gold Coast in Queensland with his family, stated that the shark might have been either sick or tired. He and his son Parker, along with the three men, helped move the shark into deeper waters using crab rakes.
Core initially hesitated about getting involved in the rescue, but his son Parker shared his own anxiety. The three men had already used the crab rakes to move the shark by the time they arrived.
Core decided not to push the shark himself, considering the animal’s territory and the potential danger. He later learned from the rescuers that they had never encountered a beached shark before.
Macquarie University wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta explained that while shark strandings are not common, they have become more visible due to social media. The reasons behind such incidents may include illness, injury, or the chasing of prey into shallow waters.
Pirotta emphasized that human safety should be the top priority in such situations, and authorities should be contacted to provide appropriate assistance.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/02/my-hearts-pounding-australians-wade-into-ocean-to-save-great-white-shark-stranded-in-shallow-water
