HORROR video shows how a family were forced to fend off a great white shark for nearly 40 minutes after accidentally reeling it in while fishing.
Dylan Wier was out on the sands in Orange Beach, Alabama, in the early hours of the morning with pals when he felt a huge tug.
7
7
7
7
Along with his business partner Blaine Kenny and several family friends, he had decided to head down to the ocean at around 4.30am to simply enjoy a “cool moment” together.
But the group got more than they bargained for when they set up a fishing rod on a whim to see if there was anything lurking in the waves.
They ended up embroiled in an epic 32-minute struggle with a great white shark after snagging a much bigger fish than intended.
Dylan beamed: “It was an extraordinary experience for the both of us. One we will cherish for the rest of our lives.”
He and Blaine, who own fishing guide company Coastal World Wide, said even their combined strength could barely overpower the creature.
Their extraordinary catch on March 7 was incredibly caught on camera, much to the delight of angling enthusiasts.
The gang of family friends can be seen excitedly surrounding the fishing rod after they realised they had got a bite.
Dylan had been in the water in a kayak just moments earlier after dropping some bait into the ocean.
Most read in The US Sun
But as they struggle to reel in their catch, one of the group shares their concern that they may have hooked a “giant tiger or a mako” shark.
After battling to reel it in for over 30 minutes, they finally manage to drag their catch towards the shore – until someone spots what it is.
A voice can be heard exclaiming: “Oh my God. It’s a great white!”
After getting over their initial shock, the group then begin frantically trying to usher the shark back into deeper water.
Two men appear to cut it free from thick netting before grabbing hold of its fin and tugging it into the sea.
One says: “I think he’s clear! Bro! That’s a freaking great white!”
It is believed to be the first time a great white has landed on a beach in the state of Alabama.
As the duo “walk” alongside the shark to make sure it returns to safety, the beast seems to show its appreciation as it swims away.
Several swishes of its tail suggest the shark was greeting the helpful humans, who dubbed the interaction the “craziest interaction of their lives.”
One proud pal tells the men: “You guys just probably caught the first land-based great white in Alabama. Period. End of story.”
Coastal World Wide shared the 12-minute footage on YouTube, where it quickly racked up a whopping 180,000 views.
Social media users were blown away by the groups response to reeling in a shark and praised them in the comments.
One wrote: “Great catch and release guys. That was a once in a lifetime experience and the respect and way y’all handled that magnificent animal speaks volumes about your character.”
Another said: “Goes to show you that you never know what’s on the other end of the line when you’re fishing in the ocean. Great video.”
A third added: “I wasn’t there, but the emotion and excitement when you guys identified the shark was just amazing.
“Great video and congrats on probably being the first group of people to catch a Great White from land.”
Marcus Drymon, shark expert and Mississippi State University professor, said the incident is believed to be the first ever great white shark caught from a beach in Alabama.
According to the shark expert, great whites are known to pass through the Gulf of Mexico, but rarely swim close enough to the shore for land-based fishermen to reel them in.
7
7
7
6 total views, 1 views today
