Marine biologist reveals exactly what to do if you ever find yourself face-to-face with a shark in the water – and why you should NEVER just ‘swim away’
- Marine biologist Andriana Fragola shared video of tiger shark encounter
- The TikTok video has been viewed by 16million people since post on Monday
- Ms Fragola shows how to safely deal with a shark close-up in the ocean
An incredible video shows the moment a massive tiger shark swims up to a young woman in the ocean before she shows exactly how to safely handle the situation.
Andriana Fragola is a marine biologist and shark safety diver in Hawaii who uploaded the video to TikTok on Monday – where the clip has been viewed by more than 16million people.
Ms Fragola, who goes by the username Andriana Marine, displays nerves of steel as she calmly directs the enormous creature, the most dangerous shark behind a great white, away from her.
Ms Fragola (pictured) posted the amazing video to her TikTok account on Monday
Ms Fragola can be seen showing how to safely deal with the huge tiger shark in the close-up encounter (pictured)
In the footage Ms Fragola can be seen extending her left arm and resting her palm on the shark’s nose.
‘If you are ever in this rare situation where a tiger shark approaches you, this is what you should do,’ she explains in the video captions.
‘As the shark gets closer make sure you maintain eye contact, reach out your hand and lock your elbow.’
She then explains how to place your hand flat on top of the animal’s head and push yourself up and over them.
‘Leave your hand along the side of their body to maintain that extra space in case the shark decides to turn back to you again.
‘Then after the shark starts to swim away make sure to do a look around and make sure there are no other sharks approaching you.’
Ms Fragola is an experienced shark safety diving instructor and has studied sharks for years
The shark can be seen calmly swimming away after she pats the animal on the nose (pictured)
In another video, one of a number of close-up shark encounters Ms Fragola has filmed, she explains remaining calm and staring the shark down is your best option if you’re ever in this situation.
‘Swimming away is the worst possible thing you could do and if you try and extend your fins to block, the tiger will likely plow right through them.’
The shark expert advises the maneuver should only be used as a last resort if you have no other option and find yourself surprised by a shark in the water.
Commenters on the video were stunned at how calm Ms Fragola remained.
‘The best method is to stay on land,’ one person said.
‘I’d just probably have a panic attack,’ another person said.
‘There’s a lot of things I would do if a shark approached but placing my hand on them is not one of them,’ added a third.