In a heart-pounding encounter off the coast of Australia, a resilient man in his 70s demonstrated extraordinary courage when he faced off against a 6-foot-long wobbegong shark, successfully escaping its jaws by delivering a powerful punch to its head.
Richard Stubbs, a 77-year-old grandfather, was enjoying a snorkeling excursion approximately 160 feet from the shore in Yallingup Lagoon, located in the southwestern region of Western Australia. Suddenly, the tranquility of the waters was shattered when the wobbegong shark lunged at him, sinking its teeth into his leg. In a swift and instinctive response, Stubbs courageously punched the creature on its head repeatedly until it relinquished its grip. With the assistance of his swimming companions, he managed to make his way back to the safety of the shore.
Wobbegong sharks belong to a group of 12 species of carpet sharks native to the waters off Indonesia and Australia. Typically found near the seafloor, these creatures are known for their tendency to inhabit the depths and feed on smaller fish and crustaceans.
Recalling the intense moment, Stubbs recounted to Australian local news 7NEWS, “All of a sudden, something hit me, and hit my leg hard, and I thought, ‘What is that?’ I was very frightened.”
“I really didn’t know what to do. It was very instantaneous,” he added, revealing the deep gash the shark had left on his right calf.
Grateful for the assistance of his friends, who played an instrumental role in his escape from the water, Stubbs expressed his appreciation, stating, “Just thinking about it, the whole thing, the whole occasion that arose, I’m just lucky to have that support and the people around me. I love them.”
Wobblegong sharks typically reach lengths of around 4 feet; however, certain species, such as the spotted and banded wobbegongs, can attain lengths of up to 10 feet. These unique creatures possess distinctive whisker-like lobes surrounding their jaws, serving as both camouflage during hunting and a sensory mechanism for navigating their surroundings.
While wobbegong sharks are generally non-aggressive and pose minimal threat to humans, occasional instances of attack have been reported, particularly when humans encroach too closely. The International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum records 31 wobbegong attacks, none of which have proven fatal.
Richard Stubbs’ remarkable encounter serves as a testament to human courage and quick thinking in the face of unexpected danger, reminding us of the unpredictable nature of the ocean’s inhabitants and the need for respect and caution when venturing into their domain.
