Randy Fry, a 50-year-old experienced diver, was killed by a great white shark while diving for abalone near Fort Bragg, California. His last wish, expressed to his friend Cliff Zimmerman, was to die in the water if he had to go.
The Attack
On August 15, 2004, Fry and Zimmerman were on their 28-foot boat, the Dolphin, about 150 feet from shore. The seas were calm, and the weather was warm at 32°C. As Fry began his descent, Zimmerman saw an 18-foot shark fin glide between them. The shark attacked Fry, grabbing his throat and decapitating him in seconds.
Zimmerman described the shark as the "size of a pick-up truck" and said the ordeal was "over in five seconds." A fisherman known as Red pulled Zimmerman onto the boat and called the coastguard.
Aftermath
Red recalled seeing a pool of blood on the water's surface and knew Fry was gone. He said, "It was the most dramatic thing I ever saw in my life. It's just not real." Fry's body was found the next day, but his severed head was not discovered until September 8, when it washed ashore.
Fry's friends paid tribute to him in a eulogy, remembering his love for diving and the sea.
