A fearless sunseeker has been filmed pulling a beached shark back to sea with his bare hands.
Footage shows the man crouching down and grabbing the predator by the tail.
As the shark thrashes around in the shallows – trying to shake itself free from his grip – the beach-goer uses his muscle to pull it into deeper waters.
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A nearby crowd begins to applaud and cheer from the shore.
The scenes unfolded on Caleta Abarca Beach in Viña del Mar, Chile, and were shared on social media on Friday (14 Feb).
Local media say shark sightings in the area are rare.
Reports say the shark had been stuck on the sand for a while when the man decided to take matters into his own hands.
Chile’s National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) issued a statement advising others not to copy his actions.
The agency said: “Intervening directly with a shark can pose a danger to people, as its behaviour is unpredictable.”
The specimen that washed up last week is believed to be a porbeagle (Lamna nasus).
Porbeagle sharks can reach up to 12ft (3.7m) in length and weigh more than 1,300lb (590kg), as reported by What’s The Jam.
Their teeth are large and blade-like, with lateral cusplets – or “mini-teeth” – on either side of each tooth.
Expert José Luis Brito told local media that the porbeagle that washed up in Viña del Mar was “no longer than 1.40 metres (4’7”) and could possibly be a female”.
As to why it washed up, marine biologist Nicolás Pérez Salgado told local media: “In the best-case scenario, it was chasing prey that came too close to the shore, and the waves pushed it onto the sand, out of the water.
“There is also the possibility that it was sick or injured.”
Experts warn against handling beached marine animals and recommend calling Sernapesca instead.
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