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A DIVER WHOSE near miss with a great white shark became a viral video sensation, viewed more than 15 million times on Youtube, says the ocean’s apex predator is “beautiful”.
Chan Ming was on a shark-watching excursion off the Mexican coast when the animal broke into the metal cage protecting him.
Despite their fearsome reputation, sharks do not normally feed on humans, and have to be drawn in with bait.
The shark seized the bait and crashed into the cage, breaking part of it. Unable to swim backwards, it carried on inside, where Chan was alone.
The advertising executive and part-time diving instructor told AFP that he tried hard to stay calm, “because if I get panicked it will be very horrible in there”.
When the great white shark was breaking into the cage, the inside of its mouth was getting jammed in the cage, and at that moment I was thinking ‘Hey, don’t think about coming in here’.
The video shows the shark apparently bleeding as it thrashes its way out through a gap on top of the cage, which was opened by a crew member.
An agonising 20 seconds pass before Chan, who is from Hong Kong but lives in Shanghai, emerges safely.
The harrowing incident did little to diminish Chan’s fondness for the great white and he went back into the water the next day.
The 51-year-old said, “You know in Chinese we say that ‘Where you fell down, (is) where you need to stand up’.
I still think the shark, the great white, is so beautiful, they’re very beautiful and cute.
In a company statement posted on Facebook, operator Solmar V Luxury Live-Aboard said the shark did not suffer any serious injuries.
“Shark breaches of this magnitude are a one in a million occurrence,” it said.
As unfortunate as it was, it was still an accident.
The company – whose priority is to offer “unique life experiences” – said its cages have been reinforced following the breach, and bait would be thrown further away from them in future.
After his 4 October brush with the great white Chan wrote on his Facebook page that he had been “reborn” and was savouring Cantonese noodle soup and beer, adding: “Everyday are good days.”
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The shark was sick of the fish bait he fancied a Chinese that day .
Amazing animals, demonised and pushed to the brink of extinction. The shark was just being a shark. We’re made out of meat and that’s what they eat. They don’t have malice, or anger they’re just being sharks
Well said Martin and that goes for all animals. Humans on the other hand can be very dumb and dangerous!!
Ah yes cute…that’s what comes to mind when there’s a great white with around 240 teeth thrashing around beside you!!!
Ah the Chinese, a great bunch of lads
I’d give 10/10 for the shark’s back flip to be fair
Very Poor cage design, shark shouldn’t have been able to get in , diver should have an emergency second exit… Lucky man
These cages must be fitted with a panic button in future. Godzilla will be at hand in future.
Cage goes in the water You go in the cage Shark in the water Our Shark
Ide say the Chinese diver passed on the shark fin soup that night
have your say