Shark Attack

A 19-year old was recently killed by a shark while playing in the surf near Santa Barbara, California.  While riding his boogie-board, the shark chomped down on both his leg and the board.  Before he could be helped to shore, he bled out and died.

The authorities closed the beach.  A few days later,  the beach was reopened.

I suppose that is the politically-correct response.  Logically, however, it makes no sense.

First of all, one would have to assume that the man-eater was just hovering in the same spot – waiting for another morsel of thigh and surfboard.  Sharks aren’t like helicopters.

Secondly, who’s to say that other sharks may not swim into this very same area tomorrow or the next day?

Lastly, it is the OCEAN!  This is where sharks live!  (As well as many other dangerous-to-humans creatures!  Can anyone say, “Stingray?”)

A shark is an eating machine, fine-tuned by years of evolution.  It swims and eats.  If you play in the ocean, you are, therefore, giving yourself a chance of becoming a meal.

While I feel sorry for the young man who was killed, as well as his family and close friends, we all should realize that the beautiful, fun ocean is the habitat of predators.  Boogie-boarding and surfing are unsafe acts.  The best way to prevent getting eaten by a shark is to stay out of the ocean.   

Nobody has ever died from a shark attack on land….except a few characters from the 1970’s “Saturday Night Live” skits.