Did you hear about the lifeguard who rescued the shark? Here’s the beginning of the story, from the Associated Press:
NEW YORK (Sept. 4) - When a Coney Island lifeguard spied a shark near an upset group of swimmers, he did what he thought was right: He rescued the fish.
Marisu Mironescu, 39, said he was prompted to action Monday after seeing about 75 to 100 people circling the 2-foot sand shark off the beach and "bugging out."
"They were holding onto it and some people were actually hitting him, smacking his face," said Mironescu. "Well, I wasn't going to let them hurt the poor thing."
He grabbed the largely harmless shark in his arms and carried it, backstroking out to sea, where he let it go. "He was making believe like he's dead, then he wriggled his whole body and tried to bite me," Mironescu said.
I loved this story! People often kill creatures that they perceive to be even slightly threatening -- a spider, a non-poisonous snake, a mouse. Sharks are certainly a favorite whipping boy. But it takes a special person to look at that shark and see, not a threat, but a suffering fellow creature! Dude deserves a medal!
In rescuing the shark from the stupid humans he probably rescued all those humans from harm at the same time. I doubt such people will have the wit to to see it that way though.
ReplyDeleteGREAT story! Poor shark.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for Marisu!
I agree with you, but I have to say that I think it's scary...because sharks are a threat. right?!
ReplyDeleteMandy: That's true!
ReplyDeletePatrick: It's very rare for a shark to attack a human, and this shark was only two feet long. If you see a shark it's prudent to stay out of its way (i.e. get out of the water) but no, it's probably not a threat.
It is Foucault who said "The judges of Normality are present everywhere". Here in America if it's not "normal", we like to kill it (or, at the very least, abuse and humiliate it). Of course, America is not alone in this hobby. HEY - GREAT pic and story, Steve. I don't mean to be a total downer.
ReplyDeletethat is a great story - i think its partly the fault of all those documentaries about sharks as "ruthless killers". plus human beings love to scapegoat too.....
ReplyDeletesharks, goats.... where will it end?
sharks are becoming endangered. i can't abide the killer mentality we have when there is one isolated shark attack, off we go in search of revenge. the ocean is not our kingdom. of course i am afraid of sharks, but that doesn't mean i want to eradicate them! great story. there was a story in NZ a while back of a pod of dolphin that encircled some surf lifesavers in training, that had been swept out a bit, there was a shark or two gettig close, but the dolphin protected the humans until they went away, then helped them to shore. now there's compassion!
ReplyDeleteand don't get me started on goats...