Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Man who was in metal cage that shark broke into still thinks they're 'beautiful and cute'

The shark crashed into the cage, breaking part of it and carried on inside.

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.

Gabe and Garrett / YouTube

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.”

- © AFP, 2016

Read: Irishman up for Pride of Australia Medal after he saves friend from great white shark attack>

Author
View 10 comments
Close
10 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Mc Dermott
    Favourite Richard Mc Dermott
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 12:22 PM

    Ah i crashed in tallaght when a horse came bolting from a garden and landed on the bonet of my van with my pregnant girlfriend in the van also van was scrap after it two cameras were looking at the scene i was told they were not working “recession”and was told to take a civil suit against a very well know traveler family to get compensation as you can imagine i was left footing the bill myself so heres hoping these cameras are working poor girl rip and my toughts go out to her family

    311
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fagan Fagan
    Favourite Fagan Fagan
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 12:37 PM

    @ Richard
    I’m surprised they didn’t sue you for damages to the horse

    319
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute big shmoke
    Favourite big shmoke
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 12:41 PM

    Dublin bus CCTV cameras are always working & should be invaluable in establishing the chain of events which led to this tragedy.

    148
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gillian DeFaoite
    Favourite Gillian DeFaoite
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 1:00 PM

    ( Genuine question) Do the cameras look out on to the road too?

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Mc Dermott
    Favourite Richard Mc Dermott
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 1:20 PM

    I was worried about that aswell but when you drag your horse into a horse box and leave the scene like a hot snot not evening asking about the two injured partys think there claim went out the window but point is i and my girlfriend are ok this poor girl had passed away my heart goes out to her family

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sandra Turner
    Favourite Sandra Turner
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 3:43 PM

    dash cam time

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Storey
    Favourite Dave Storey
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 4:27 PM

    Yes the cameras look out onto to road from several directions

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Les Hughes
    Favourite Les Hughes
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 10:57 PM

    yes and camera in cabcovers door

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Cullen
    Favourite Thomas Cullen
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 11:35 PM

    Yes there is a camera where the route numbers are back and front. In all there are 10 cameras on your bus working 24/7

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fagan Fagan
    Favourite Fagan Fagan
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 12:12 PM

    With all the CCTV it shouldn’t be too difficult

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sacha Mahady
    Favourite Sacha Mahady
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 12:28 PM

    I would not rely on cameras being of any use. Very unfortunate accident. My thoughts are with the families involved. With that rain yesterday conditions got pretty bad at times for driving.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Mc Dermott
    Favourite Richard Mc Dermott
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 12:35 PM

    Youd feel sorry for bus driver must feel real guilt even if it was not his fault road deaths an injurys affect people long after the news stops talking about it

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Lane
    Favourite Dermot Lane
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 12:45 PM

    The rain is all the more reason to drive extra carefully, if conditions ate too bad, pull over and wait. The showers pass quickly.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sylvia Rafter
    Favourite Sylvia Rafter
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 9:36 PM

    This is my friends daughter so anyone with negative comments pls keep them to yourself and your small minds . A simple r.I.p will suffice instead of dissecting the situation

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maggie Elizabeth Walsh
    Favourite Maggie Elizabeth Walsh
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 2:58 PM

    RIP that young girl, I hope the young man pulls through. Thoughts with both families and also with the driver and passengers of the bus.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sorca O Brien
    Favourite Sorca O Brien
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 8:03 PM

    I live in that area . There has been multiple crashes at that point and deaths as evidenced by the crosses erected at the road side . Conditions were bad yesterday with downpours and if your speed is a little high the bend is fairly sharp to take . Regardless of who was at fault a young girl has died and another young man very unwell . Think of their families .

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Louise Ni Riain
    Favourite Marie Louise Ni Riain
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 2:43 PM

    Poor family of that girl that died a awful tragedy :-( drive carefully to many deaths

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laura O'Reilly
    Favourite Laura O'Reilly
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 3:16 PM

    This isn’t the first tragedy on that this stretch of road. The road hasn’t been modified since the 60′s I hope the council start considering to look at it.
    A terrible tragedy

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute On Raglan Road
    Favourite On Raglan Road
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 3:59 PM

    That section of the Greenhills Road does not need any modification. More than likely this crash was due to excessive or inappropriate speed by one of the drivers.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre Meredith
    Favourite Deirdre Meredith
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 4:36 PM

    Were you there think of both these of these families before you have decided to make such a stupid comment

    31
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre Meredith
    Favourite Deirdre Meredith
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 5:08 PM

    That comment was meant for Quinn

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laura Purcell
    Favourite Laura Purcell
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 5:22 PM

    Bronagh, with all due respect, please have respect for the families of that girl and the biy left behind, and dont leap to conclusions. it will already be a painful enough time for them :/

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre Meredith
    Favourite Deirdre Meredith
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 5:32 PM

    An hour after the crash so don’t just assume police want to question two other drivers who overtook the bus around the time of the accident so I think before any blame is put on anybody wait till all the facts come out first

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mark420
    Favourite mark420
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 2:39 PM

    Seen that crash last night there is no CCTV on that part of road it was outside lidl not at the roundabout were ther is loads of CCTV hope that catch who there looking for

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Always Be Closing
    Favourite Always Be Closing
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 7:36 PM

    There by the grace of God.

    May God give strength to the families involved.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Jul 29th 2013, 9:51 PM

    welcome back, changed your name?

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds