Shark knocks off mask and rips out diver's automaton - video

Elton Polly and some friends went diving in Durban, South Africa on Saturday. The 38-year-old was filming the dive when a shark swam very close to one of the team members, before attacking him moments later. The startled diver captures the moment the almost three-metre-long shark hits him on the head, knocking off his mask and ripping the automatic from his mouth.

The footage shows divers swimming among several blacktip sharks. At one point the shark probably felt trapped and, trying to get out, swam close to one of the divers who, in order to avoid contact, directed it straight at Elton, who was filming the event.

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A few seconds later, the shark ‘rammed’ into him, ripping his mask off his head and ripping the automatic from his mouth. At this point, all that can be seen in the video is a mass of bubbles and one wonders how powerful the attack was and how serious the consequences will be.

However, just moments later, the camera captures the exemplary behaviour of the other team members as they help their colleague calm the situation down. As the diver who was attacked said, fortunately he was composed enough not to panic and the resulting problem did not escalate into anything more serious.

“This type of diving takes place here every day,” he said, adding that fortunately neither he nor the shark was harmed.

Blackfin sharks are fairly easy to recognise because of their sharply pointed snout and black fin tips. They prefer shallow waters, so are often seen by divers and freedivers.

Source: www.mirror.co.uk Photo: wikipedia.org CC 3.0