Bolton Father Recounts Terrifying Shark Encounter During Night Swim
A father from Bolton has shared his harrowing experience of fighting off a Great White shark while swimming in complete darkness off the coast of California. Chris Murray, a 54-year-old solicitor, was attempting a 20-mile open water challenge in the Catalina Channel when the predator attacked.
Daughter's Warning Becomes Reality
Before departing for his swimming expedition, Murray's 23-year-old daughter Eleanor gave him a card that read "don't get eaten by a shark." Tragically, her lighthearted warning became a reality during the early hours of December 30, 2025. Swimming as part of a group in pitch-black conditions, Murray initially felt teeth on his hand.
The four-foot Great White shark ripped a substantial chunk of flesh from his hand in the first instance. Murray recalled shouting in pain, with his support crew initially mistaking his cries for complaints about a jellyfish sting. The situation quickly escalated when the shark returned moments later.
Shark Returns for Second Attack
The predator clamped onto Murray's foot, prompting him to kick desperately with his other foot. As the support vessel illuminated the water with its lights, Murray saw the terrifying sight of the shark circling back for what he described as "its dessert." Despite the traumatic attack, Murray managed to wrestle the beast away and climb toward the boat's ladder.
Even as he attempted to escape, the persistent shark continued to circle him in the water. A crew member urgently called "come in number seven, out you get" as Murray scrambled to safety. The solicitor suffered severe lacerations to both his hand and foot from the encounter.
Emergency Response and Recovery
Murray received immediate treatment aboard the support boat before being transferred to shore by the Los Angeles Fire Department. He was subsequently rushed to hospital where medical staff treated his wounds with stitches and surgical glue. His swimming challenge was understandably abandoned following the traumatic incident.
Coach Tim Denyer contacted Murray's family to deliver the shocking news while assuring them of his survival. Remarkably, Murray maintains a philosophical perspective on the encounter, stating "I don't see it as being nearly killed. I just think it just had a bit of a nibble on my foot and my hand."
Determined to Continue Swimming
The Bolton father expressed his intention to "block out" the traumatic experience and not allow it to diminish his passion for open water swimming. He emphasized the statistical rarity of such encounters, noting that shark attacks occur in approximately one in 11 million instances.
Murray hopes his experience won't deter others from ocean swimming, acknowledging that many people naturally fear deep water and its inhabitants. His remarkable survival story serves as both a cautionary tale and testament to human resilience in the face of nature's most formidable predators.
