VIDEO: Hammerhead Shark Caught Lurking Near FL Paddleboarders

West Palm Beach FL

22 February, 2022

5:57 PM

Description

PALM BEACH, FL — Three paddleboarders in Palm Beach got quite the adrenaline rush recently when a hammerhead shark swam a little too close for comfort. A drone managed to capture the epic encounter on camera. According to Evan Parness, who shot the video, a massive hammerhead had been hunting for blacktip sharks all morning when the paddleboarders managed to capture its attention as well. "This shark checked them out multiple times. It's really amazing to see just how large that shark is next to the boards," Parness posted to Facebook. "I'm thrilled I was able to capture such an incredible moment between dinosaur and man." The great white hammerhead, which can grow up to 18 feet, and the scalloped hammerhead, which can grow up to 10 feet, are two of the most common hammerhead sharks in Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said. National Geographic describes hammerheads as "aggressive hunters." While they don't actively seek out human prey, they are very defensive and will attack when provoked. According to the International Shark Attack File, hammerheads have been responsible for 8 percent of unprovoked shark attacks in Florida since 1926. No human fatalities, however, have ever been recorded. Video of the hammerhead encounter below: