British diver ‘stalked’ by tiger shark while lost at sea
John Craig swam for three hours to reach safety after becoming separated from his boat
On Friday evening, a search and rescue plane spotted missing 34-year-old John Craig walking along the shore in a remote area of Western Australia. When rescuers caught up with the exhausted diver, he had an incredible story to tell.
Craig had taken a boat out spearfishing with a friend earlier that day. While underwater, his spear gun became trapped under a rock, and when he eventually managed to dislodge it and return to the surface, the boat had drifted out of sight.
However, he was not alone in the aptly named Shark Bay. As he trod water and called in vain for the missing boat, the British expat spotted an unwelcome visitor at his side - a tiger shark, which is second only to the great white shark in terms of fatal attacks.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“It was easily the biggest tiger shark I’ve been in the water with and that’s saying something having worked as a dive instructor for over ten years,” Craig, who emigrated from Sunderland two years ago, told the Sunderland Echo. Adult tiger sharks can reach more than 5m (16.5ft) in length.
"I watched the tiger shark circle and then suddenly approach me multiple times from different angles,” said Craig, who used his spear gun as a barrier to prevent the curious predator getting too close.
Spotting the Francois Peron National Park’s distinctive red cliffs on the horizon, he began the gruelling four-mile swim to safety. However, the tiger shark followed close behind.
"At this point I thought I was gone - four nautical miles out to sea with a huge tiger shark following me," he told the BBC. "I would look back and see its head come out of the gloom and at my fins, keeping pace with me.”
After 15 minutes, the shark disappeared from view. Understandably, Craig was reluctant to wait around for its return and swam for another three hours without stopping until he reached the shore and started heading for a nearby campsite.
By this time, his friend had alerted authorities to Craig’s disappearance and he was spotted by a sea rescue plane around an hour later as he walked along the coastline. He was then taken onto a rescue boat where his wife, Emma, was waiting for him.
Craig told the Sunderland Echo he was “eternally grateful” to the emergency services for ending his ordeal, which he described as “the worst thing I've experienced since the 1998 play off final against Charlton”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published