A video circulated the web recently of a juvenile great white shark stranded on a beach in Massachusetts. Local beachgoers were able to save the beached animal by continuously tipping water over it to avoid its skin drying out. The story concluded with a happy ending as the shark was pulled back into the water and eventually swam away.

 

 

There was a similar event recently at White Crest Beach in Cape Cod, but this time it was an adult great white between 3.4 and 4.3 meters (11 and 14 feet) long.

^{Image credit: Wellfleet Police Department}

Local law enforcement said they believed the shark was either sick or injured when it washed ashore, but that didn’t stop a large group of beachgoers in their attempt to save it. Whilst keeping it wet with water from sandcastle buckets, they created a rivet in the sand via which they pulled the animal back to the water.

^{Image credit: Wellfleet Police Department}

Unfortunately, despite the brave efforts of the rescuers (getting that close to a great white must take some courage!), the shark reportedly died later that day.

So it may not have been a happy ending for this particular shark, but the keenness of people to help these incredible animals is a significant sign that attitudes towards these magnificent creatures may finally be changing.

Check out the footage here.