Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
Though, at this point, I'm convinced that open bodies of water are NEVER safe.
I blame TikTok mostly for this as a video has recently gone viral on the app which shows a man's close call with a Tiger Shark.
Advert
Yep, you read that correctly.
A Tiger Shark - not an animal any sane person would get to know up close.
In the clip, which has been viewed more than five million times, a man can be seen out in the Hawaiian sea in his kayak.
Advert
However, once the shark emerges from the water, things take a turn for the worse.
Saying that, has a shark emerging ever been a sign of good news?
Anyhow, the shark chomps down on the side of the kayak and gives its occupant a good fright.
Fortunately, that's about all he gets his teeth around, as the predator soon swims off and lets his lucky prey live to see another day.
Advert
Viewers were understandably alarmed by the video and took to the comments section to express their shock.
One wrote: "I would be phoning in helicopter rescue," while another remarked: "Okay. No more ocean for me. Thanks!"
A fellow commenter gave a nod to the most famous shark of all, as they quipped: "You're going to need a bigger boat!"
Advert
That's an understatement if I ever heard one.
Sharing a sentiment that I can heartily endorse, one TikTok user wrote: "Yet another reason of the 100 others that I will step foot in the ocean."
The man at the centre of the video, Scott Haraguchi, gave an interview about his terrifying experience to local media.
He'd been out fishing when the incident took place.
Advert
Haraguchi explained: "I heard a whooshing sound that sounded like a boat heading towards me without the motor.
"And I looked up, and I saw this big wide brown thing, which I thought was a turtle."
Shortly after his lucky escape - when he kept on fishing - Haraguchi claimed he saw a wounded seal.
He theorised: "I'm thinking that the shark actually disabled and wounded the seal and was waiting for it to die.
"Then it came back and thought I was the seal, and attacked me instead."
Talk about an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.
Ben Thompson