Teenager has leg bitten off by huge great white shark in horror tug of war | World | News
Heather Boswell lost her leg in the attack (Image: Señor Onion’s Archives/Youtube)
A young researcher’s life was transformed in an instant during what was meant to be a leisurely break from work at sea.
Heather Boswell, aged just 19 at the time, was aboard a research vessel off Chile’s coastline in 1994 when the crew decided to make the most of the beautiful conditions by taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean.
However, the teenager fell victim to a devastating shark attack that was captured on a home video, documenting the sheer horror of the ordeal as it happened.
It was 23 March and the waters seemed tranquil, with no indication that peril lurked nearby. Heather was swimming back towards the vessel when, out of nowhere, a 16ft great white shark surfaced behind her.
In a desperate struggle for survival, the lethal predator closed in before seizing her leg as she fought to break free from its grip. A bone-chilling scream rang out as the shark clamped down on her limb and she cried «help me!».
The shark made a beeline for Heather (Image: Tracking Sharks/Youtube)
The ocean turned a chilling crimson. Yet despite the ferocity of the incident, Heather later described how strange the experience felt, reports <a href=»https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/16ft-great-white-shark-bit-36560819″ rel=»Follow» target=»_self»>the Mirror</a>.
«It didn’t hurt at all, it was kind of like a puppy chewing on your finger,» she remembered.
In the harrowing footage, crew members can be witnessed frantically trying to reach her, thrusting out a broom handle in a desperate attempt to drag her from the water. Cries of alarm ring out everywhere as terror grips the scene.
As they looked on in terror, the shark launched a second assault, seizing Heather once more and pulling her underwater. «Oh My God,» a voice can be heard exclaiming.
Heather recounted the horrifying power of the attack.
Heather Boswell being attacked by a shark (Image: Tracking Sharks/Youtube)
«I just remember it was really really rough, I felt like a ragged doll,» she said.
«And then when he brought me back up, I didn’t feel pain then either, all I felt was a pop. «The shark bit most of my leg.»
Fortunately, a colleague eventually managed to grasp her arms whilst another repeatedly hit the shark with a stick, compelling it to let go.
Heather was pulled back onto the vessel as her teammates witnessed the full horror of what had just transpired.
Not content, the shark then attempted to attack another swimmer clinging to a ladder.
Heather’s remarkable tale of survival was subsequently featured on the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, drawing global attention to her experience.
Years afterwards, appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Heather recalled the moment she discovered she had lost her leg.
She said: «When they were playing tug of war with the shark they reached down and grabbed my arms and pulled me but the shark still had a hold of my left leg. «»There was tug of war and I felt a pop. I thought ‘I hope my leg dislocated because if it didn’t it would be gone’ and I looked down and my leg was gone.»
