A dramatic rescue unfolded on Wednesday (April 1) at Hermosa Beach Pier, Southern California, when 20-year-old fisherman Kevin Phan leaped into the ocean to free a juvenile great white shark entangled in his fishing line. Armed with only a pair of scissors, Phan stripped down to his underwear and waded into the surf to cut the line and guide the shark back to safety.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. as Phan and another fisherman struggled to reel in what they initially thought was a large fish. Onlookers gathered on the pier, watching anxiously as Phan worked to free the shark. Alexandra Garry, a local resident who captured the event on her phone, told the Los Angeles Times, “I thought perhaps it was a big tuna, really anything except a shark.”
Phan, an experienced fisherman, explained that he was not targeting white sharks, which are protected under California law. “When I saw the great white, my brain just clicked into action,” he said. Despite initial fears that the shark was not moving, it soon began thrashing, and Phan successfully pushed it into a wave, prompting cheers from the crowd.
As reported by KTLA, Phan later shared on social media that he suffered minor cuts and scrapes during the rescue but was relieved the shark swam away safely. Officials advise beachgoers to notify lifeguards if they spot a shark to ensure safety.
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