Here’s a summary of what is known about the incident:
What happened
- A 6-year-old girl, Anela Rezentes, was playing in shallow water at Kalama Beach, Oahu (Hawaii) when she spotted a shark fin nearby. Facebook+36abc Philadelphia+3Inside Edition+3
- Her mother captured video of the moment the shark came very close. Facebook+26abc Philadelphia+2
- According to the reports, the shark “bumped” her, coming within inches of her before swimming away, but she was not injured. Inside Edition+26abc Philadelphia+2
- Experts believe the shark was likely a blacktip shark, which are known to swim in shallow waters and occasionally mistake moving limbs for prey. Inside Edition
Context & risk
- Encounters like this are rare.
- Blacktip sharks are generally shy and avoid humans, but in some cases, they may “test bite” or bump, especially in areas where fish or baitfish are present.
- Most shark encounters don’t result in injury.
A little girl got the scare of her life while splashing along the beach. Anela’s mother was filming her as she played in the surf, when all of a sudden the 6-year-old ran out of the water, screaming that there was a shark. The frightening encounter happened off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Experts say a blacktip shark, which commonly feeds on fish in shallow water, is likely what bumped into her leg. The girl said she wasn’t going to stick around to find out!
