Sharks and Cats

Is it just me, or does there seem to have been a rise in shark attacks recently? Are we to believe that is independent of the rise in Big Cat sightings? I think we should be told.

On the shark note, the hilarious reports of Mark Currie's (no, not the famed and adored Blue Peter presenter and one time Bugsy Malone star... this is another one) brush with death by great white did catch my eye last week. Here are selected highlights from the Times:

The terrifying incident began when two women in the cage spotted the shark and clambered back into the safety of the boat.

But Mr Currie, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, decided that as he had paid his money he would have a go, believing the cage, kept afloat by four buoys off the coast at Hermanus, must be safe. The shark began to circle before heading straight for him. Mr Currie, a salesman, thought this was normal until the fish rammed the cage and bit through the metal bars.

Mr Currie said that he thought he was either going to drown or be eaten. Realising he had to escape he climbed on the top of the cage and, as the shark started what would have been his final, fatal attack, the captain hauled him into the boat while hitting the shark over the head with a metal bar.

Mr Currie, describing the experience, said yesterday: “When it started attacking the cage I thought I would be safe as long as I stayed inside — until it started breaking through the metal. It was so weird. I think the captain was rather angry because he had to buy a new cage for the boat trips because his had sunk to the bottom of the sea." Mr Currie added: “It was a real thrill! Scary, but it hasn’t put me off swimming in the sea."

Brilliant!