The 25th annual "Shark Week" begins on the Discovery Channel tonight at 9 PM.
The week of shark-related programming has developed a massive following over the years, and is shown in 72 countries.
This year's shark week, however, comes just two days after a harrowing shark-related rescue in Australia reinforces the complex relationship between humans and the big fish.
A man off the coast of Leeman, Western Australia was at sea for 20 hours after the boat from which he and two companions were fishing capsized Thursday night. A helicopter from ABC Perth observed the man appear to pray while a hammerhead shark circled within 60 feet of him. The station's Grant Taylor gave a real-time report from the helicopter that can be heard here.
https://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/08/10/3565130.htm
Taylor estimated the shark to be between 10 and 11 ½ feet. The helicopter was unable to reach the man, but pilots used the wind from the rotor to scare the shark away.
The man has been identified by the Western Australian as Kim Thomsen, a native Dane resident in Perth, Australia.
The helicopter showed an exhausted-looking Thomsen naked and floating on his back, attempting to stay afloat. He was too worn out to climb two steps after he was finally pulled aboard the rescue boat. He was suffering from exhaustion, hypothermia, and dehydration; and taken to Royal Perth Hospital, where he remains.
A second man from the fishing boat, Bryce Weppner, 24, was pulled from the water shortly after Thomsen, but was pronounced dead.
A third man, Sean Coffey, 23, remains missing. He is the nephew of Thomsen's wife, Michelle. The search had to be called off yesterday due to inclement weather. Australia's 9 News reports that it will resume tomorrow.
https://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8515067/search-for-missing-fisherman-called-off
There have been five shark-related fatalities in Australia's western waters in the past 11 months. The most recent death was that of Ben Lindon, a 24-year-old surfer killed near Perth in July.
Attacks on humans by hammerhead sharks are extremely rare, but not unknown.
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