Fark, shark!

[blamebrampton]

I'm guessing most people have seen Mick Fanning's escape from that shark at J-Bay in South Africa. If you haven't, the video is below, but I warn you, it's not the sort of thing you want to watch if you're planning to go into the water this week.

Mick kicked and punched the shark and was able to get away, despite losing his board. Another surfer, Julian Wilson, started powering in towards him to get him onto his board, while jetskis and boats swiftly closed in on the two of them and hauled them out of the water while shark sirens blared and everyone else rushed onto dry land.

After the incident, Fanning realised his Mum must have been watching the broadcast and so went out in front of TV cameras so he could show her he was OK. Wilson was interviewed and started off with a standard courageous 'Well, it's just what you do, isn't it?' before he got further into the story and said 'and then the wave came up and I couldn't see him' and he dissolved into tears because he thought he'd just watched his mate die.

And I just want to give them a jolly big hug and call them good boys, if it wouldn't all sound as though I was being a middle-aged lady treating them like labradors.

Comments

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Now, what's wrong with being a middle-aged lady treating boys like labradors?

Not that I intend to watch that video. I beware of sharks, see. Fenned & three-legged. Also, I'm going to see the sea this weekend! And a lake, that is, as far as I know, shark fen free except for the plastic species. I'll get all wet! However, well informed by the renowned German (online) magazine Der Spiegel (The Mirror):

Tatsächlich können Haie Menschen gefährlich werden. Translation:

"In fact, sharks can be(come) dangerous to human beings."

Who would have thought? Not that I want to accuse the labradors of going for an award but even puppies seem to know, life is dangerous: http://www.darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid2014-02.html a place to be.

[incandescent.livejournal.com]

I did see that! I particularly enjoyed his contained terror as he beat that shark back. I mean, I thought he really kept ahold of himself, considering.

They were so sweet. My poor slashy brain kept telling me they had to be sleeping together or at least in the throes of UST before I smacked it soundly and told it to stop.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

Wow. That was pretty scary, even when you're not in the water, too. Someone should tell announcers that they really don't need to keep talking constantly, especially when they don't actually have anything to say. Did he go back and finish the heat when it was safe? I think if I saw a shark fin that close to me, I'd be rethinking that whole 'let's get into the ocean' thing.

[oakstone730.livejournal.com]

I've watched the footage of this so many times, it is just mesmerizing. I just can't imagine how his heart must've been pounding. There is another clip that shows him swimming full-speed towards the shore and then spotting the sleds coming for him.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Scary, and it's amazing how calm everyone seemed afterward.

[montjoye.livejournal.com]

I confess I had a little weep along with his mate.

[noeon.livejournal.com]

" if it wouldn't all sound as though I was being a middle-aged lady treating them like labradors."

Perfect. And given the circumstances, entirely appropriate I should thing. Wow!