Abalone diver Eric Nerhus ( 41 ) had an amazing experience earlier this week when he ran headlong into a great white shark while diving near Eden on the far south coast of New South Wales.
The shark swallowed him - to the extent that his head, shoulders and one arm were within the shark's mouth. The encounter crushed his diving mask, breaking his nose and the shark's teeth ripped into the flesh on his back, chest and across his rib cage.
He reports that he jabbed the shark in the eye - and the shark released him.
Shark experts put a different slant on the story. The area where Nerhus was attacked is near a seal colony - and seals are the preferred meal for sharks. At the time the water was cloudy and it is likely that the shark mistook the diver for a seal.
Sharks are intelligent animals. Nerhus was wearing a leaded vest and the shark would have instantly recognised that what it had in it's mouth was not a seal - and consequently it spat him out.
Nerhus should buy a lottery ticket. It was an amazing escape and for whatever reason the shark released him he should be thankful.
It seems that in recent weeks great white sharks have been more prevalent and have been coming closer to shore. While air temperatures have been at record highs, water temperatures have been at record lows. Wind action has driven colder water closer to shore and beachgoers complain that the water - usually about 21 c at this time of year - has ranged from 14 to 17 c.
In fact, at a recent religious ceremony when a cross was thrown into the water to be retrieved by the faithful swimmers - some of the contestants emerged with mild hypothermia.
It seems that miracles do happen - but some people will insist that this is just another example of climate change !
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