A widow who horrifically watched a 9ft shark maul her husband to death spoke of how the scene resembled something out of the 1975 gore-fest Jaws.
Thadeus Kubinski met a grisly end when he headed out for his usual swim in Florida's Boca Ciega Bay in August 2000.
The 69-year-old is said to have dived off the dock situated behind his home, which he had lived in since 1984, on a daily basis with his beloved wife Anna to get some exercise in.
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But his routine dip in the shallow waters behind his property had fatal consequences.
After walking down to the dock with his partner, Thadeus decided to begin his swim with a splash and leaped from the jetty into the water below.
Anna, on the other hand, had opted to climb down the ladder to get into the bay.
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But as she descended into the water, she witnessed her husband's final moments - as a nearby shark that was seemingly startled by Thadeus' splashing was about to strike.
Anna explained that in scenes reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's frightening flick, Jaws, she watched on helplessly as she saw a dorsal fin cutting through the water and racing towards her spouse.
Unbeknownst to the couple, the 400lb beast had been lurking in the shallows looking for some lunch.
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Marine biologist George H. Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida, previously told the Tampa Bay Times: "It was in there looking to find a meal, going about its normal existence."
The shark then tore a chunk out of the right side of Thadeus' body as the water quickly turned red from his blood.
It's ferocious jaws managed to crush his rib cage and rip through his liver.
An autopsy later revealed that the shark had left Thadeus with a 15-inch bite wound in the shape of a crescent moon, which spanned from his right armpit to his hip.
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"Quite frankly, the victim did not have a chance," Burgess said. "The severity of the injury resulted in a very quick death."
The swimmer sadly bled to death after suffering massive blood loss and severe organ damage while Anna frantically raised the alarm.
The couple's son, Edward, later told the media that his mother had described the incident as 'just like the Jaws situation'.
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Describing Anna's actions, their other son Richard added: "She was pretty much in a panic. She thought the best thing to do was to run and call for help."
The children said that the couple were swimming in about 5ft of water and were just 10ft from the safety of the dock.
Polish native Thadeus, affectionately known as Ted, was survived by his wife, five sons and three grandchildren - who he had taught to swim in the spot where his life was later cut short.
Dr. Marie Hansen of the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office said of the tragic incident: "He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Topics: US News, News, Shark Attacks, Sharks, Animals
Olivia Burke