Only a few people could claim to have encountered a shark in real life, and even fewer could say they lived to tell the tale. Now, we can add 10-year-old Eden Hasson to this short list.
A series of shocking photographs have amazed netizens since Tuesday, showing a young boy unknowingly surfing over the top of what appears to be a Great White Shark.
The close encounter, which occurred in Samurai Beach at Port Stephen in Australia, was captured by Eden’s father, Chris Hasson, showing the terrifying beast lurking under his son with its enormous gaping mouth.
According to The Newcastle Herald, the elder Hasson, who’s an avid surfer himself, was standing on some rocks and was simply snapping photos of his son, when a dark shadow caught his eye.
“I took the camera onto the rocks and started taking photos when I noticed a dark shape,” the real estate broker described the shocking ordeal. “I was just about to call everyone in when Eden took off on the wave in the picture and I took a number of shots.”
After reviewing the photographs, the father of four could not believe that he was indeed looking at the head of the dreaded water predator.
“Eden rode the wave to the beach. I quickly zoomed in on the second photo and was shocked when I saw the image,” he said. “Eden was half way out and I called everyone in. I showed them the photo and everyone was in awe laughing.”
Meanwhile, Southern Cross University marine biology associate professor Danny Bucher, who reviewed the photographed, confirmed that it was actually a “white pointer,” a local term for Great Whites in the area.
“From the look of it, it looks like it’s started to roll on its back as it has gone through the wave,” Bucher said.
“That would probably indicate that it’s trying to actually swim away from the approaching board.”
Despite the harrowing experience that would traumatize most kids his age, Eden was unfazed by the encounter and will continue to surf on his leisure time.
“Eden said ‘Lucky I didn’t fall off, Dad,’” Chris Hasson revealed. “You know Eden has gone for a surf today already, so we are not too worried about it — you just have to be aware,” he added.
Sharks are usually an uncommon sight at Samurai Beach, but Hasson believes that a rotting whale carcass near the area may have attracted the predator. Khristian Ibarrola
