subject: Surfer Escapes Attack By Punching Shark [print this page] Its not often we hear of a shark attack where the victim survives relatively unscathed, and even rarer is there mention of the victim attacking the shark right back. That is, until now. Just last week, a 28-year-old surfer, who was pleasantly surfing off the coast of Oahu, fended off a shark by punching it in the face. Although it is common knowledge for those who work with animals to know the most sensitive parts of animals, its lucky for Joshua Holley that he does his research and remembered a sharks most sensitive part is its snout.
Holley told ABC News that after feeling a pushing sensation against his body, he looked to his left and saw a large dorsal fin similar to that of a shark. After Holley felt a popping sensation, the shark went under water, came up on the other side, and was greeted by a swift punch in the snout. The shark submerged and quickly swam off. Holley was rushed to the hospital and the popping sensation he had felt were two severed tendons which required over forty stitches and tons of TLC.
Holley admits that he was terrified at the time, but does not hold any resentment towards the shark. According to Holley, the shark was simply doing what comes naturally. Holley realizes humans are merely visitors in the sharks ocean home. Holley has plans on returning to the water as soon as possible. After his injuries heal, he will require orthopedic surgery and treatment on the injured foot.
The type of shark that attacked Holley is a tiger shark. Tiger sharks are large, blunt-nosed ocean predators that are named for the large vertical stripe on their nose, which often fades away as the sharks approach adulthood. According to National Geographic, tiger sharks have earned the reputation as being man-eaters and are only second to great white sharks in attacking people. Additionally, tiger sharks are more prone to stick around and finish the job; white sharks have a sensitive palette and are well aware when they have bitten a human, but tiger sharks have a highly undiscerning palette.
Tiger sharks are known to eat almost anything; the stomach contents of captured tiger sharks have been known to contain a limitless menu of items, including typical items like squids and stingrays, and more advantageous items like license plates and tires. Thankfully, the shark chose to bite a foot first and Holley thinks quick on his feet, otherwise this story may have had much more of a jaw-clenching ending.
