Encounters with 6 Deadly Sea Creatures

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07 Jun 2016

These are the biggest, most dangerous sea creatures ever! From dangerous shark attacks to lethal jellyfish stings, we're counting down the worst sea monster attacks in history.

From paralyzing, venomous sea snakes to sunken ships in shark-infested waters, here are encounters with six of the deadliest creatures of the sea.

Number 6: Bull Sharks
Bull sharks can be found in oceans & rivers throughout all parts of the world, primarily in warm waters. Their ability to adapt to freshwater makes it possible for them to swim up rivers & not just confine themselves to saltwater. Due to their aggressive nature & proclivity to occupy shallow waters, they are among the most dangerous sea creatures in the world.

Bulls sharks only grow to a maximum of 13 feet long on average & weigh about 290 pounds. But it was also this species that served as the inspiration for the 1974 horror novel, Jaws, which of course was adopted into the classic horror film of the same name a year later.

The events that inspired this movie were the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916. From July 1st to the 12th, 1916, five people were attacked by bull sharks, four of which were killed.

Charles Epting was the first victim on July 1st after a shark bit his leg, from which he later bled to death. Five days later on July 6th, another man named Charles Bruder was killed by a shark at a resort town in Spring Lake, New Jersey. He sustained such serious injuries while swimming close to shore, that he bled to death before lifeguards could manage to get him to safety.

On July 12th, a group of young boys was playing in the water in Matawan Creek in Keyport, New Jersey. Among this group of boys was 11-year-old Lester Stilwell, who was splashing around with his friends when an 8-foot long bull shark approached the group then proceeded to pull Stilwell down into the water. His friends got help from a group of men that came to the rescue. One of them was local businessman, Watson Fisher, who jumped into the water to retrieve the boy's body. Fisher, too, was attacked as the townspeople stood by & watched the gruesome scene unfold in front of their very own eyes. Fisher lost Stilwell's corpse but managed to escape himself. However, he bled to death in the hospital just two days later.

Only a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Dunn survived the series of bull shark attacks. He was rescued by his brother & a group of friends on the same day as Lester Stilwell's death. Dunn escaped the attack & spent the next two months recovering in a hospital.

To this day, there is still no clear consensus explaining the sudden spike in shark-related deaths. There is also debate as to whether the attacks were from bull sharks or great white sharks. Witness descriptions make many believe it was bull sharks carrying out these deadly attacks. But weeks after they occurred, fishermen caught & killed a great white shark that nearly sank their boat. They brought the shark's body back, which scientists dissected & found human remains inside. They've since then left open the theory that at least one of the attacks was from a great white while the other attacks in Matawan Creek were likely from bull sharks, as they're far more likely to swim upstream.

Number 5: Sea Snakes
There are several different species classified under the term “sea snake,” most of which are extremely poisonous. The majority of them grow anywhere between 4 to 9 feet long & as their name would suggest, are fully adapted to living underwater. They also inhabit a wide geographic range, populating both the Pacific & Indian Oceans. Typically, they're found in shallow waters where humans are more likely to be.

Like many snakes, the ones that roam the sea are also venomous. Occasions where they do deploy their venom can be very deadly if left untreated. Early symptoms include headaches, vomiting, & sweating. As the venom progresses, the body may begin to experience a rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. One might also experience a very painful stretching of the muscles as well as lockjaw. Eventually paralysis of the muscles & ptosis—or a drooping of the eyelids—will also set in. The muscle paralysis makes swallowing & breathing difficult. If a venomous bite goes untreated, it could ultimately mean the end of the victim with no hope of recovery.

Number 4: The Box Jellyfish
Box jellyfish can be found in the Indo-Pacific regions, parts of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, & off the coasts of California, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, & South Africa. The largest & most dangerous of this species are often found in waters near Australia.