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Shark Drops In On Unsuspecting Dad And Daughter Off New Zealand Coast

By Dustin Wicksell
Published on: 06:56 PST, Mar 5, 2016

A father and daughter swimming off the coast of New Zealand recently found themselves the recipients of a bit of unwanted aquatic attention, as a shark unexpectedly dropped in on their fun, driving them from the surf.

Michael Homer and his child Gina were swimming at Papamoa Beach, located in the North Island’s Bay of Plenty, when the unusual run-in occurred, according to the Huffington Post. The pair were trying out a new GoPro camera when a shark unexpectedly joined them in the surf, suddenly appearing between them.

Footage of the encounter shows the shark’s fin rising from the water just a few feet away from the frightened duo. After the initial shock, the shark circled back toward them before swimming off to into the depths. Wisely, neither Homer nor his daughter wanted to wait for the animal’s possible return, and the end of the clip shows them making their own madcap dash for shore.

Sharks are hardly uncommon in New Zealand, and several notable species are known to inhabit the surrounding oceans. As the Inquisitr has reported in the past, the region around New Zealand is thought to be a nursery area for juvenile great white sharks. While it is unclear which species is shown in Homer’s video, the animal is certainly too small to be an adult or sub-adult white shark.

Just a week ago, a group of fishermen recorded a close encounter with a great white shark near Frenchman Island. The incident was filmed by the anglers, as one of them reached out to touch the shark, and the inquisitive animal even attempted to take a bite out of the boat’s motor. This behavior is commonly reported in white sharks, and while researchers are unsure what drives it, the act is thought to be motivated by curiosity, rather than hunger or aggression. In the end, the shark proved to be totally non-aggressive and eventually departed the scene of the encounter, leaving the stunned fishermen in its wake.

Last year was a record-breaker when it comes to unprovoked shark attacks, yet the chances of an average beachgoer experiencing such an event in their life remain unyieldingly slim. Of the millions of people who ventured into the surf during 2015, just 98 individuals found themselves facing such a situation without provocation. As USA Today points out, the International Shark Attack File has been collecting data on these kinds of incidents for 57 years. The previous record was established in 2000, with 88 shark incidents reported.

Six fatalities were recorded in 2015, yet the relationship between sharks and humans has proved far more detrimental to their species. Shark attacks may garner widespread attention, particularly when a fatality is involved, yet millions of sharks are killed each year, both by anglers and in an effort to safeguard beaches. Sharks are placed in particular danger due to worldwide demand for their fins, which has given rise to a brutal practice of harvesting which has devastated populations worldwide.

Homer uploaded the video of the family’s close encounter with the shark to YouTube last Saturday. Since then, the clip has begun to go viral and has currently been viewed by over 120,000 people. While the pair were no doubt shaken by the incident, the shark appeared just as startled as them, and all involved walked away unharmed.

[Photo by Allan Lee via Flickr | Cropped and Resized | CC BY 2.0]

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