Is this the world's stupidest swimmer? Watch tourist bear-hug an eight foot shark so his head is just inches from its jaws

  • Snorkeller branded 'idiotic' for stunt off the Pacific island of Bora Bora
  • Friend who also swam with sharks likened it to 'out-of-body experience'
  • Lemon sharks normally harmless bu can attack humans if threatened

By Simon Tomlinson

Published: | Updated:


This is the moment a holidaymaker risks his life by bear hugging a shark in what has been branded an idiotic stunt.

The snorkeller is filmed wrapping his arms around the lemon shark so his face is just inches away from its jaws.

Lemon sharks, named after their yellow colour, are not normally aggressive to humans but they have been known to attack if they feel threatened and one seriously injured a scuba diver earlier this year.

Staring death in the face: A snorkeller risks his life by bear-hugging a lemon shark

Staring death in the face: A snorkeller risks his life by bear-hugging a lemon shark

Risky: The snorkeller is filmed wrapping his arms around the lemon shark so his face is just inches away from its jaws

Risky: The snorkeller is filmed wrapping his arms around the lemon shark so his face is just inches away from its jaws

 

Luckily, this shark remain remarkably docile as the swimmer approaches the 8ft animal from behind, swings himself underneath and rides along for several metres.

The man who posted the video on YouTube, Grant Murdok, said the lemon shark swam peacefully among a group of snorkellers in the waters off the Pacific island of Bora Bora.

Mr Murdoch, who said he also embraced one of the sharks, said: 'They didn't seem to mind at all that we were riding for free. It was as close to an out of body experience that I have ever felt.'

Stunt: Luckily, this shark remains remarkably docile as the swimmer approaches the 8ft animal from behind, swings himself underneath and rides along for several metres

Stunt: Luckily, this shark remains remarkably docile as the swimmer approaches the 8ft animal from behind, swings himself underneath and rides along for several metres

Predator: Lemon sharks, named after their yellow colour, are not normally aggressive to humans but they have been known to attack if they feel threatened (file picture)

Predator: Lemon sharks, named after their yellow colour, are not normally aggressive to humans but they have been known to attack if they feel threatened (file picture)

But the close encounters have been labelled dumb, idiotic and crazy on social media, it was reported by ninemsn.

Sandra O'Donovan posted on Facebook: 'It'll be all fun and games until one of the sharks... bites someone and gets killed for its trouble.'

Another, Will Bateman, said: 'Good way to lose your face'.

In February this year, a Canadian tourist was seriously injured when a lemon shark bit him on the forearm while he was scuba diving off Bora Bora.

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