Fisherman risks life to rescue great white shark caught on fishing line: ‘He didn’t hesitate’

Fisherman rescues shark caught on fishing line

Dramatic footage captured the moment a fisherman rescued a great white shark caught on a fishing line in Hermosa Beach, California, on Wednesday, April 1. (Credit: Alexandra Garry via Storyful)

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. - A tense but remarkable rescue unfolded off the coast of Hermosa Beach, California, earlier this month, when a young fisherman sprang into action to save a great white shark tangled in a fishing line.

The incident was caught on video by bystander Alexandra Garry.

Fisherman rescues great white shark

Big picture view:

The footage shows 20-year-old Kevin Phan rushing into the water after realizing what he had hooked. Phan wades into the surf and carefully pulls the shark closer to shore to free it from the line.

Dramatic footage captured the moment a fisherman rescued a great white shark caught on a fishing line in Hermosa Beach, California on April 1. (Credit: Alexandra Garry via Storyful)

As a crowd gathers along the beach, he works to cut the shark loose before attempting to guide the powerful animal back into deeper water. The video shows Phan making several efforts to steer the shark away from shore. Eventually, once the shark reachs safer depths, it regaineds its strength and swims off.

Fisherman said he tried to free shark quickily

What they're saying:

Phan later explained he had no intention of catching a protected species. Aware of California’s regulations regarding great white sharks, he said he immediately focused on releasing it as quickly as possible.

"I wasn’t intentionally targeting white sharks, because I know the rules of California state law, you can’t target them at all," Phan told The LA Times. "When I saw the great white, my brain just clicked into the action, and I tried to free it as quickly as I could."

Garry, who filmed the scene, praised his quick thinking and bravery.

"He definitely deserves the praise," Garry told Storyful. "It’s not every day you need to strip to your underwear in front of a crowd to go help a great white shark, and he didn’t hesitate!"

Sharks incidents in California

Dig deeper:

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), incidents where sharks bite humans are extremely rare in California. 

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Since 1950, there have been less than 250 shark incidents in California involving many species of sharks, the vast majority of which involved white sharks. Of those, fewer than 20 were fatal and all of the fatalities likely involved white sharks.

CDFW defines a shark incident as any documented case where a shark approached and touched a person in the water, or touched a person’s surfboard, kayak, paddleboard, etc. This does not include shark sightings where no contact occurred, instances where sharks approached boats, or cases where hooked sharks caused injury or damage.