Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I swam 4 miles to shore stalked by a 13ft tiger shark
Diver’s miracle escape in Australia
A BRITISH diver stranded at sea made a desperate threehour swim with a 13ft killer shark circling him.
John Craig, 34, was spear-fishing in Australia when his friend had engine trouble on their boat and it drifted away – leaving him four nautical miles (4.6miles) out.
He said: “I looked around and couldn’t see the boat. I started to call out, splashing and screaming. I saw a huge tiger shark approach.
“It was easily the biggest tiger shark I’ve been in the water with.”
The tiger shark – second only to the great white as a threat to humans – began to circle him.
John, a diving instructor for 10 years, said: “It was trying to work out whether I could be on the menu. I used my spear gun to block its path. After about two minutes I thought, ‘I have to get out of here’ and swam for shore.”
TERRIFYING
As he made for Shark Bay, Western Australia, the beast followed – and cruised alongside him. John, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, said: “I thought, ‘This is how I am going to die’. In any other situation, it would have been amazing. But in this situation it was terrifying.”
The shark vanished after 15 minutes but John kept his spear pointed behind as he continued the gruelling swim.
When he hit the shallows on Friday, he turned to see a huge search and rescue operation behind him. A plane spotted him before an emotional reunion with Welshborn wife Emma. John said: “I could barely stand, my legs were so sore.”
Rescuer Glen Ridgley said: “I could not believe someone could swim that far in such a short time. I guess where there’s a shark spurring you on... it’s like a trainer.”
And John, who moved to Australia in 2015, said being stalked by the shark was tougher than being a Sunderland fan. He added: “This was the worst thing I’ve experienced since the 1998 play-off final defeat against Charlton.”
I couldn’t believe he swam that quick. I guess a shark spurs you on... RESCUER GLEN RIDGLEY ON JOHN’S AMAZING SWIM