Shark Attack Survivor Recalls Terrifying 'Tug of War' with 16ft Great White
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT - A young researcher's life was forever altered during what should have been a peaceful day off work at sea, in a harrowing shark attack that was captured on home video.
The Fateful Swim in the Pacific
Heather Boswell, then only 19 years old, was working as a crew member on a research vessel off the coast of Chile in 1994. On March 23, the team decided to take advantage of the glorious weather by swimming in the Pacific Ocean. The waters appeared calm, with no indication that danger lurked beneath the surface.
As Heather enjoyed a swim back towards the boat, a massive 16ft great white shark suddenly emerged from behind her without warning. In a desperate race for her life, the deadly predator quickly caught up with her, grabbing her leg as she struggled to escape its powerful jaws.
Horrific Attack Caught on Camera
The terrifying incident was captured on home video, showing the sheer terror of the nightmare unfolding in real time. A blood-curdling shriek could be heard as the shark mauled her limb, with Heather screaming "help me!" as the sea turned a horrifying red around her.
Despite the violence of the attack, Heather later revealed how surreal the moment felt. "It didn't hurt at all, it was kind of like a puppy chewing on your finger," she recalled in later interviews, describing the bizarre sensation during those terrifying moments.
Desperate Rescue Attempt
On the disturbing footage, crew members can be seen desperately attempting to reach her, extending a broom handle in a frantic bid to pull her out of the water. Screams erupted all around as panic took hold among the horrified onlookers.
As they watched in horror, the shark struck again, biting Heather a second time and dragging her beneath the surface. "Oh My God," someone can be heard saying on the recording, capturing the sheer terror of the situation.
The 'Tug of War' Moment
Heather recalled the terrifying force of the attack, describing how "I just remember it was really really rough, I felt like a ragged doll. 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."
Thankfully, a colleague managed to eventually grab her arms while another repeatedly struck the shark with a stick, forcing it to release her. Heather was hauled back onto the boat as her teammates looked on in shock at the full extent of what had just happened.
Aftermath and Recovery
Years later, speaking on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Heather described the moment she realised she had lost her leg. She explained: "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."
Heather's extraordinary survival story was later featured on the Discovery Channel's Shark Week, bringing worldwide attention to her ordeal. The unsated shark then attempted to go for another swimmer hanging off a ladder before eventually departing, leaving the traumatised crew to deal with the aftermath of the violent attack.
