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Brit 'dragged shark away by tail'

24 January 2013 09:20

A British man aged 62 is reported to have pulled a shark by its tail and guided it away from an area of shallow waters where children were playing at a beach in Australia

A British man aged 62 is reported to have pulled a shark by its tail and guided it away from an area of shallow waters where children were playing at a beach in Australia

A 62-year-old Brit has been hailed a hero in Australia after pulling a shark up out of the sea by its tail and dragging it away from people playing nearby. Holidaymaker Paul Marshallsea, a grandfather from Merthyr Tydfil, was on a beach north of Brisbane in Queensland when a siren warned there was a shark in the water. Footage shown on Sky News shows him grappling with the creature, reported to be a 6ft (1.8m) dusky whaler shark, in the shallow water before trying to guide it back out to sea.

Mr Marshallsea tumbled as the shark fought to free itself and it snapped its jaws inches away from his leg. He said his "instincts took over" as he tackled the creature because babies and toddlers were playing close by, the Daily Mirror reported. "I know it was dangerous but it almost looked beautiful. You have to respect a beautiful animal," he added.

For other 60somethings seeing the event with a mixture of incredulity and admiration, the incident - while highly unusual - may act as a reminder to ensure they have appropriate over 60s travel insurance in place and to take sensible precautions while on holiday.

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