Sometimes, helping an animal can be as straightforward as donating to an animal shelter or catching a baby bird that fell out of their nest. Other times, however, animal rescue requires a lot more strength and finesse.
Rebecca, the Floridian “ocean lover and diver” behind Instagram account @yogi.backpack, shared a harrowing story on March 8 after helping a stranded great white shark that flipped over in shallow water. Most people wouldn’t get anywhere near one of the world’s most formidable predators, but the diver and her husband didn’t hesitate to jump into the ocean to give the massive shark the boost they needed to swim back toward deeper waters.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Who knows what would’ve happened if Rebecca hadn’t been there to help when the shark flipped over? Even though she did more than enough by reporting the incident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, she went above and beyond by getting into the water herself.
“This is amazing,” agreed @oceanwithadam. “Thank you for your advocacy and for proving that people genuinely care about the misunderstood creatures!” In fact, over a million viewers have liked the video, so just think of how many more have watched Rebecca’s brave act of selflessness.
For anyone who’s imagining themselves in Rebecca’s shoes, it’s OK to feel conflicted. @ccieraa was so honest when she wrote, “I would have panicked and cried if I saw an animal struggle for their life. I don’t know if I would have been brave enough to try to save a great white shark; I have a healthy and respectable fear of them (and their teeth), so I am really proud of you for helping.”
Is This a Real Animal Rescue?
Between the unbelievable rescue story, the shark’s massive size, and the unique, ever-changing camera angles, it’s easy to see why some viewers were hesitant to believe that this video (and the rest of the story on Rebecca’s channel) was legitimate. As incredible a story as it may be, it appears to be true!
“This was filmed with my DJI Mini Pro drone that follows me,” Rebecca explained. “Once the battery died, it returned home automatically. Thankfully, someone passing by captured the final moment when the shark rode the wave back out.”
Still, one question remains. @Hv_studios asked, “Did you make him pinky promise not to eat humans after all this?” Let’s hope so!
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Mar 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.