Terrifying moment shark destroys diver’s enclosure
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Shocking video has emerged of a man beating a shark over the head with a hammer in scenes described by eyewitnesses as “disturbing and horrifying”. The three-minute clip, captured by nearby CCTV, shows the man pulling the shark back into the sea by its fin after the sustained attack. The incident unfolded on a Florida beach on Monday and has prompted an investigation by wildlife officials.
Another man watches on as the shark is dragged back into the ocean.
Faith Madsen, who witnessed the attack, said: “My co-worker and I were just stunned to see that this was happening right in front of our property.
“To see something like that happen to an animal as someone who grew up here, who also fishes and has friends who do this was just disturbing and horrifying.”
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A Florida man was caught on CCTV repeatedly hitting a shark with a hammer (Image: HARBOUR HOUSE OCEANFRONT SURF CAM)
The man is then seen dragging the shark back into the ocean (Image: HARBOUR HOUSE OCEANFRONT SURF CAM)
Ms Madsen said the attacker had reeled in the five to six-foot shark and dragged it onto shore before he started beating it with the hammer.
She noted the beach was full at the time, with children present. It occurred outside the Harbour House Oceanfront Venue.
She added: “We have beaches full of families and kids, and he has done this in front of them before, it is really just disheartening.”
Another witness, Ken Wells, told Click Orland he had seen the man catch sharks before at Bicentennial Beach Park.
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The shark appeared to have died following the repeated blows (Image: GETTY)
Mr Wells said: “I don’t know that he did anything wrong if he’s keeping the shark and eating it.
“But if he’s not and he’s just killing it, then that would be another problem.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said the man believed to have hit the shark with the hammer had been identified and an investigation is ongoing.
In a statement, the FWC said: “The FWC takes potential resource violations seriously and is currently investigating this incident.”
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The attack took place while beachgoers were still swarming the area (Image: YOUTUBE/Justin Linnert)
While shark fishing is legal in Florida, the FWC requires anyone 16 or older to pass an online test and obtain a permit before being allowed to fish from the shore.
The Commission also noted that, depending on the outcome of the investigation, the man involved in the attack could face potential animal cruelty charges.
According to Florida legislation, an individual found to have abused or killed any animal with cruelty or who commits animal cruelty can be charged with a misdemeanour resulting in prison time or a hefty fine.