Near-Decapitated Diver Pokes Shark In Eye

Australian Man Escapes With Serious Injuries After Head Was Clamped Between Shark's Jaws

(CBS/AP)  A diver escaped a 10-foot shark's attack by poking the animal in its eye after it had already chomped on his head once and was preparing for another bite, witnesses and officials said Tuesday.

Eric Nerhus, 41, was flown to a hospital with serious injuries to his head, body and left arm after the attack Tuesday off Cape Howe, about 250 miles south of Sydney.

The shark grabbed Nerhus by the head, crushing his face mask and breaking his nose, said Dennis Luobikis, a fellow diver who witnessed the attack.

"He was actually bitten by the head down — the shark swallowed his head," Luobikis said.

The shark, believed to be a great white, came back for a second bite, clenching its jaws around Nerhus' torso and leaving deep lacerations in his side, said Luobikis.

Nerhus wrestled free of the shark's jaws, and later told rescue workers he had poked the shark in the eye, spokeswoman Debbie Lowry of the Snowy Hydro Rescue Helicopter service told local media.

"He was diving so we have to fly low to the ground, and there are mountains on the way to Canberra," Lowry said of the rescue, adding that when you dive, "you have got to a minimum of two hours adjusting ... it's decompression. The oxygen in your lungs need time to readjust or you get the bends."

Nerhus was pulled from the water by his 25-year-old son and rushed to a hospital, suffering blood loss and shock.

"Eric is a tough boy. He's super fit," said Luobikis. "But I would say that would test anyone's resolve, being a fish lunch."

Shark attacks are relatively common in Australian waters, home to some of the world's deadliest sea life. Scientists say there are an average of 15 shark attacks a year in Australia — one of the highest rates in the world — and just over 1 per year are fatal.

[robertjpage]

"When a great white shark attacks its food, it rolls its eyes back into its head so its prey can%u2019t get to them and hurt them. So it was either not a great white, or he did not poke it in the eyes.
Posted by Ryier at 01:46 PM : Jan 23, 2007"
_______________________________________________
My word, Ryier, if the fish had been swallowing you, it would not have been ingesting an inordinate amount of grey matter.

The Great White, [as do some other sharks] roll their eyes back as you stated when attacking, but factually speaking, the eyes still remain in their sockets, and can therefore be poked vigorously by a frantic human finger!

So our plucky mate Eric had the presence of mind to gouge the predator's eye and thus spare himself. Chances are he knew it was a Great White as he was diving in waters particularly noted for them, and apparently got quite a close lookabout.

Celebrate his survival, mate, don't question the veracity of his account based on your quite simplistic assessment and limited knowledge.

[slickwing-2009]

pok'em in the eye,or kick'em in the balls

[ezillyamused]

You go ecuadoriana!!!!

[ryier]

Gah, sorry about three post, IE messed up again.

[ryier]

When a great white shark attacks its food, it rolls its eyes back into its head so its prey can%u2019t get to them and hurt them. So it was either not a great white, or he did not poke it in the eyes.

[ecuadoriana]

izzyd3434 you are right on. There actually is a shark repellent that divers use.

[delaisaac]

I'm surprised that they haven't invented some sort of ultra-high pitched deterrent or something...or a repulsive smell....shark mase?

John
http://www.monomachines.com

[cavecricket-2009]

Definition of Attack: to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; begin fighting with: He attacked him with his bare hands.

Nothing in there about intent. Simply the act is an attack, whether maliciously intended or otherwise. Well done to the diver for having the presence of mind to defend himself and escape!

[annd2302]

SHARK:

1. Big Fish
2. They Bite
3. They Hungry
4. They See You
5. They Eat You
6. You Die
7. Makes You Feel Stupid
8. You Feel Nothing, Remember, You Die
8. Bigger Fish

Nothing but "net"
Nothing but evolution

What's the question or for that matter, what%u2019s the problem?

[h0lli]

You've certainly gone off the deep end. Excuse the pun.