In a heartwarming demonstration of humanity’s bond with nature, a group of beachgoers united to save a distressed shark along the coast on Wednesday afternoon, April 17.
Ettiene Martin, was taking pictures for a graduation when he noticed something in the water.
“On closer inspection I saw a shark struggling to get back in the water after swimming close to the shore,” said Martin.
With the help of Liezel Steenkamp, Belinda Killeen, and an unknown man, they found themselves in a rescue mission to save a struggling shark in the low tide.
Despite Steenkamp’s initial uncertainty about the shark’s species and the potential dangers involved, her compassion and resolve inspired her into action. “There was no way I wasn’t going to try and help it,” she recalls.
The trio faced the challenge of the shark’s considerable weight and the sandbank’s obstacles, tirelessly working to guide the shark back to deeper waters.
Reflecting on the experience, Steenkamp shared her deep concern for the shark.
“Seeing it struggle like that was very upsetting,” she admits. However, their efforts were rewarded as the shark eventually regained its strength and swam away to safety.
Research by Kileen lead her to believe that the shark they rescued was likely a blue shark.
A species according to Steenkamp classified as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Despite the challenges, including the shark’s weight and the difficulty of securing a proper grip, the trio unwavering determination led to their success.
“We succeeded because all three of us gave it our all and worked together,” Steenkamp reflects.
As Killeen simply puts it, “a sea without sharks is like our planet without bees. It’s just not gonna survive.”
