A young man, Angus Kockott, had a remarkable encounter with a shark that left him injured but undeterred as he plans to turn the teeth of the creature into earrings. The incident took place off the island of Mangareva, French Polynesia, where Angus was snorkelling in shallow waters. Suddenly, a 2.5m grey reef shark approached him from behind a reef and bit his arm. Reacting swiftly, Angus used a blade to stab the shark in the gills, allowing him to escape. He was then flown to the nearest hospital for a life-saving surgery lasting six hours.
The shark’s teeth severed major nerves and tendons in Angus’ arm, leading to skin and nerve grafts. Multiple teeth and tooth fragments were extracted from his wounded limb during the procedure. Despite ongoing physio and nerve treatments, Angus remains eager to return to the ocean. Describing the attack as a pivotal moment in his life, he is determined to have earrings made from the teeth removed from his arm. Reflecting on the incident, Angus said, “When the shark bit, I didn’t have time to panic – you just have to act when you have that kind of adrenaline in those situations.”
The young man was sailing around the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia with a friend when the shark attacked on May 23. Separated from his companion for freediving, Angus had to defend himself against the predator, narrowly escaping further harm. Following the attack, Angus received medical treatment in Tahiti before returning home to South Africa for additional care.
The severity of the shark bite necessitated extensive surgery to repair the arm’s nerves and restore functionality. Despite the traumatic experience, Angus remains determined to pursue a career in sailing and eagerly anticipates his return to the water. Reflecting on the attack, he acknowledged the potential for a fatal outcome had he not acted swiftly in self-defence. Angus expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal and remains undeterred by the incident, looking forward to resuming his aquatic pursuits.
As Angus navigates his recovery, he draws strength from the resilience exhibited during the shark attack, viewing it as a formative event in his life. His positive outlook and determination to continue pursuing his passion for sailing serve as a testament to his unwavering spirit in the face of adversity.