How to avoid a shark attack

Remember: sharks rarely attack humans. And there are five shark deaths worldwide each year. They don't care about our flesh. Don't assume the dead position, because the shark senses your magnetic field.

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how to avoid a shark attack

HOW TO AVOID A SHARK ATTACK

Spotting a shark in Italian waters is not such a rare occurrence. Just a few days ago, beachgoers at the San Foca beach in Salento filmed three sharks just a few meters from the shore. The video clearly shows one of the sharks very close to the shoreline, about 20 meters away, while the other two sharks immediately headed out to sea . The sighting obviously sparked curiosity and fear among beachgoers, marking the start of shark scare season in Italy.

But what should you do if you encounter a shark at sea? What precautions should you take? And what should you avoid? Here are the most important ones.

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TIPS TO AVOID A SHARK ATTACK

Don't panic . You must try to remain absolutely calm . It's certainly not easy, given the rather unique circumstances and all the literature reporting the tragic attacks of these animals, but remember that sharks rarely attack humans, and according to international statistics, shark attacks kill five people worldwide every year.

Get out of the water . But do so calmly, because any sudden movement could be perceived by the shark as a form of aggression . Try to move quickly but calmly and quietly, keeping your eyes on the shark, which could attack you from behind.

Group up . If there's more than one of you in the water and you spot the infamous fin on the horizon, group up: a group of people is more intimidating to the shark than a single swimmer .

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Face it. In the worst-case scenario, if the shark heads straight for you, cover your back, perhaps with a rock, or assume a defensive position shoulder to shoulder with another swimmer; this will reduce the number of places the shark can attack you. If you're injured, be careful not to bleed, as this could attract it again.

Aim for the snout, eyes, and gills . If you're far out to sea and the shore is far away, you'll need to defend yourself by hitting its sensitive spots. Keep hitting these areas with whatever object you have on hand, even an underwater camera , until it goes away. In the meantime, you can scream, blow bubbles, or do anything else that will tempt it away. Don't assume the dead position, because the shark senses your magnetic field and could attack.

Finally, when you spot a shark, it's very likely that it will leave of its own accord. Sharks prefer other food sources to human flesh and will usually let you swim in peace. However, if you catch a shark during a fishing trip, release it immediately. In waters around the world, there are approximately 400 shark species at risk of extinction due to overfishing. And in this case, it's the sharks that are in danger, not us.

( Video credits : Youtube )

THE SEA ANIMALS WE MUST PROTECT:

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