Fatal shark attack on Rosenheim woman off Canary Islands: Expert on danger

Why?

Clausen: Every now and then, sharks take their chance and bite. Their razor-sharp teeth can cause a lot of damage, especially if an artery is severed. It is therefore important to always stay together in a group. The animals rarely venture out. Shark accidents that happen while diving are often the fault of humans. Sharks are predators. But if you behave correctly, the chance of something happening is relatively small.

And yet accidents still happen.

Clausen: Some of them happen mainly on the surface. That is, when you can't see what's happening in the sea. When you're diving, sharks don't suddenly come running and bite. But if you're swimming, for example, and can't see what's happening below you, it can happen that a shark bites. For the animal, it's a kind of test bite; for us humans, this bite is usually fatal or has serious health consequences. For this reason, I prefer to be underwater.

How do you behave if the shark comes straight towards you?

Clausen: You should not struggle around too much and try to stay upright and remain calm. Of course, this is always easier said than done. If the shark swims towards you, your first instinct is always to flee. Despite everything, you should try to remain calm. In some cases, you can also push the shark's nose down. It is not used to this and will then flee.