# Related to the boy that was attacked by the shark...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 8, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460 "2001-08-08T15:46:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460/1 "2001-08-08T15:46:36Z")
Not to impugn the uncle who wrestled the shark out of the water… but I get “Bizzare News” in my e-mail, and the latest issue contained this (in the reader’s comments):
> [@](#):
>
> A guy that lives in Panama City sent this about
> the shark attack on that little boy. There is a reason that
> the “hero” of the attack that wrestled that 7 foot shark to
> shore is not giving any interviews, THE UNCLE THAT WRESTLED
> THE SHARK ASHORE WAS FISHING FOR SHARKS, AND HAD IT ON A
> LINE FOR TWO HOURS. When the shark got into two feet of
> water, the kids all ran into the water and the shark lunged
> and hit Jessie twice. The uncle is so filled with guilt, he
> has supposedly tried to commit suicide once already.
Anyone know if there is any truth to this at all?
Just curious…
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### Author:  [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460/2 "2001-08-08T15:55:44Z")
This was [discussed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=79121) recently in General Questions. [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/shark.htm) also covers it. It appears to have no basis in truth.
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### Author:  [@katiekilldare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katiekilldare)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460/3 "2001-08-08T15:58:58Z")
That puts a whole different spin on the story. If it happened on a public beach, and I think it did, I don’t think it could be true. Some guy wrestling with a bull shark on his fishing line for two hours is going to be noticeable on the beach. There were people around the scene who would have been happy to squeal that the guy’d been fishing, I would guess.
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### Author:  [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460/4 "2001-08-08T16:18:10Z")
And besides that, on most public beaches around here, fishing is not allowed at all, because of the danger of fishermen catching swimmers. :eek: A few public beaches have designated fishing areas, but not many where I go.
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### Author:  [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460/5 "2001-08-08T17:33:53Z")
Thank you **pldennison**!
I’m off to read your links now… (and No, I didn’t search before posting (blush)! I figured that it was so new no one else would have been discussing it… sorry all!)
Sorry! Back to your normal viewing…
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### Author:  [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2001, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/related-to-the-boy-that-was-attacked-by-the-shark/75460/6 "2001-08-08T17:44:02Z")
**Mods/Admins** would you please close this? Asked and answered…
Thanks!