A teenage student suffered life-changing injuries after being attacked by a great white shark while swimming in the Pacific Ocean, with the entire incident captured on camera. Heather Boswell, then 19, was working aboard the research vessel NOAAS Discoverer in 1994 when the attack occurred.
Attack During a Swim Break
On March 23, 1994, Boswell and colleagues decided to swim in the tranquil waters 300 nautical miles off Chile's coastline. As she swam, a colleague filmed from the safety of the vessel. Someone spotted the grey shadow of a great white shark, estimated between 14 and 16 feet. Terrified onlookers shouted warnings.
Boswell began swimming back to the boat when the shark clamped onto her left leg. She screamed for help as the shark pulled her under. She resurfaced as the sea turned red.
Rescue Captured on Video
Three crew members—Matthew Ofthus, Jon Knox, and Lisa Glover—rushed to her aid in a boat. They engaged in a tug-of-war, with two pulling Boswell out of the water while a third struck the shark with a stick. The chaos was filmed, with cries of 'everybody out of here' heard. As Boswell was pulled out, someone said, 'It took her leg off—it took it off, it’s gone.'
Another swimmer was targeted while climbing a rope ladder. Crew members fired gunshots to scare the shark away, saving that crew member. The shark retreated, and the crew worked to save Boswell and what remained of her leg.
Survivor's Account
In a later interview, Boswell recalled: 'I turned around and I saw his dorsal fin—the shark clamped down and the shark got my leg.' She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, explaining: 'When they were playing tug-of-war with the shark, they reached down and grabbed my arms and pulled me but the shark still had a hold of my left leg. There was a tug-of-war and I felt a pop. I thought, “I hope my leg dislocated because if it didn’t, it would be gone” and I looked down and my leg was gone.'
Importance of Great White Sharks
Great white sharks are apex predators vital for ocean health. According to White Shark Ocean, they 'play a vital role in keeping other animal populations in check' by preying on seals and sea lions, which 'safeguards the equilibrium of fish populations.' Many human-shark encounters are cases of mistaken identity, where sharks confuse humans for seals or sea lions.
