Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. 

Great white shark thrashes into cage with diver inside

Man is heard saying: 'Is there anybody in there?'

Harriet Agerholm
Monday 17 October 2016 10:21 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A diver had a lucky escape after a great white shark broke into an observation cage off the coast of Mexico.

Footage of the encounter shows the shark approaching bait hanging outside the cage before thrashing its way in through the side.

Those on the boat fling the hatch at the top open, and the shark, covered in blood, eventually manages to escape into the Pacific ocean.

A man on the boat can be heard saying: "Is there anybody in there?"

Someone nearby assures him there is not.

But then a man, dressed in a wetsuit and looking shaken climbs out of the top of the cage.

The man who filmed the footage told Sky News:

"When a great white shark lunges and bites something, it is temporarily blinded.

"They also cannot swim backwards so this shark lunged at the bait, accidentally hit the side of the cage, was most likely confused and not able to swim backwards.

"It thrust forward and broke the metal rail of the cage."

Shark infested Airbnb

Chan Ming, the diver in the cage, had arrived home to Shanghai by the time footage of the incident was released on Thursday. It went viral online and has notched up almost 13 million views on YouTube.

In a post on Facebook , the advertising executive said he did not blame anyone for the incident: “No one need [sic] to take responsibility. The boat teams are professional.”

Mr Chan told the New York Times he still had three more days of diving left after the incident.

When asked whether he got back into the water, he said: "The next day."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in