WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Chris Murra, 54, was swimming in the Catalina Channel in Los Angeles when he was attacked by a Great White shark Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments
A father from Bolton fought off a Great White shark, measuring four-foot-long, before the marine predator clamped its teeth into his extremity.
Chris Murra, aged 54, was endeavoring to finalize a 20-mile open water swimming endeavor in the Catalina Channel, situated in Los Angeles, when his daughter’s deepest anxiety materialized.
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Prior to Chris’s commencement of the aquatic journey, his 23-year-old daughter, Eleanor, had presented him with a card bearing the inscription “don’t get consumed by a shark”, as reported by the BBC.
While swimming in complete darkness, Chris was unable to visually perceive the shark, yet he sensed its presence. Having embarked alongside a group during the early morning hours, he was forcefully propelling through the water when he discerned teeth against his hand.
The Great White extracted a portion of tissue from his hand during the initial assault, according to the Mirror.
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The father recounted: “I recall vocalizing ‘ow’ due to the discomfort, and subsequently, I remember a brief tussle with it, leading the support crew to likely assume, ‘oh, he’s merely expressing mild irritation concerning a jellyfish sting, or similar’.”
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Subsequently, the shark resurfaced and latched onto his extremity. He stated: “Then it resembled a brief struggle, and my sole impulse was to propel it away with my opposing extremity”.
Then, the shark made another offensive movement. When the escort boat cast a beam of light on the aquatic creature, Chris was stunned to observe its return.
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Reflecting on the ship directing its radiance, he communicated: “That illuminated the entirety of the marine environment, and subsequently, the shark was returning for an additional course.”
The legal professional recounted his successful attempt to repulse the aquatic being prior to ascending into the vessel. Nevertheless, the shark persisted in its proximity.
Chris NOTED: “At that juncture, a member of the crew announced ‘come in number seven, out you get’ and I had to ascend the ladder.
“I don’t interpret it as a near-death experience. I merely consider it a minor nibble on my extremity and hand.”
The event on December 30, 2025, resulted in severe wounds for Chris, who was rapidly conveyed to a medical institution.
Chris clarified: “I obtained medical care onboard the assistance boat and was subsequently transported by the LA fire service to the coastline and then transferred to a hospital. Swim concluded prematurely. Sutures and adhesive.”
His relations were astonished upon receiving a telephone communication from coach Tim Denyer, who imparted the intelligence while reassuring them of Chris’s welfare.
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Notwithstanding the disturbing occurrence, Chris maintained steadfast commitment to his passion for swimming in open water, resolving to “suppress” the incident.
“The probability of it recurring is extremely limited. I believe it is approximately one in 11 million. Consequently, I would not wish to deter anyone from swimming in the ocean,” he remarked. He stated that individuals frequently inquire about it “because they possess an intrinsic apprehension of deep water and its contents”.