Colleen Dunn filmed her dramatic rescue of a baby shark she found in distress on an Oregon beach, dragging it back out to sea while her dogs patiently waited nearby
A woman captured the incredible moment she rescued a stranded shark from an Oregon beach in a stunning video.
Colleen Dunn was walking her dogs along a beach in Manzanita on October 10 when she spotted a small shark in distress. Initially, she believed it was a baby great white, the most lethal species of shark.
“I was essentially nervous about touching it at all,” Colleen said. “I have three kids so I didn’t wanna put myself in a dangerous position.” Luckily, it turned out to be a salmon shark, which are typically not as dangerous to humans. The shark was gasping for air in shallow water during low tide at dusk near the shore.
READ MORE: Largest great white shark on record reappears ‘heading towards resort’READ MORE: Marine biologist describes how 9ft shark clamped its jaws around his skull before blood filled his scuba mask deep underwater
Colleen initially thought the shark was a great white (Image: AP)
Colleen contacted her husband at an office at Nehalem Bay State Park seeking guidance, but received no response. So, with her dogs patiently standing by, she decided to rescue the 3-foot shark herself, capturing the rescue mission on video.
“I’m on the beach in Manzanita and there is a baby shark. I’m not sure what to do, I can’t watch it suffer. Oh my gosh, I don’t know what to do. I’m assuming I try to just let it go out,” Colleen could be heard saying behind the camera as she filmed the shark thrashing about in the shallow waters.
In the next clip, the shark had gotten caught on its back. So Colleen took matters into her own hands and quickly began dragging it along the sand and water by its tail.
“Come on big guy,” she could be heard saying as she struggled to move the shark. Eventually, Colleen was able to lift the shark off the ground completely by its tail and began running toward deeper water.
She threw it back into the water as the waves hit the shore. The shark was able to force water through its gills once more, then disappeared from sight.
Colleen picked the shark up and took it back out to sea (Image: AP)
Colleen says she shared the story last month on a local social media group, and no one reported finding the shark washed ashore again.
She previously resided in Hawaii and recently relocated her family to Manzanita, Oregon, close to the park where she encountered the shark.
The ocean and its inhabitants provide her with a sense of connection, she explained. “I’ve lived in other places across the Pacific, and the ocean has always been my grounding place,” Colleen said.
She added: “Being engaged with it, watching the tides, noticing the wildlife, even stepping in when a creature needs help keeps me present and humble.”