Video Shows Man Trying To Jump On Shark Off Chatham

July 27, 2011 11:50 AM

(YouTube Still)

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Local, News, Syndicated Local

Related tags

Basking Shark, Cape Cod, Chatham, Sharks

CHATHAM (CBS) – Just when you think you’ve seen it all…you haven’t seen this.

The YouTube video, which initially showed up on Barstool Sports, shows a man was fishing with his friend off the coast of Chatham recently when they encountered a large basking shark. The person who posted the video estimates the shark to be 20+ feet long.

As the shark swam under their boat, one of the men stepped to the edge of the boat. The man then dove into the water headfirst. It appeared as if he was attempting to ride the shark or possibly swim with it.

Watch video:

The man could be seen swimming back to his boat, yelling “Woo!”

Basking sharks typically live off New England year-round and can be up to 40 feet long, according to the New England Aquarium [.pdf]. They are largely harmless to humans.

Ellen

What an idiot. If he were my son I’d give him a good whack across the butt. No reason at all to put your life in danger like that.
gigi

HIS life? what about the shark minding its own business? too bad he didnt get bite for being stupid! Then again they would only try to kill the shark for defending itself…stupidity never ceases to amaze me.
EC

A potential Darwin Award winner !
EBexpat

This hair brained nut gives new meaning to the phrase ” live bait”.Throw him back in & see what they catch…
Lynn

I doubt the video is real.

Maggie Jacobs

This is real…he is realted to me…spent his whole life fishing and didn’t harm the shark at all

http://stevesaleeba.wordpress.com stevesaleeba

Maggie, we’re (WBZ) trying to track down Erik so we can quote him in the article. Do you know how we can reach him?
kenny

thats funny eric doing that

kenny

its very real

Craig Stcyr

lmao.
ghjtyu

The basking shark is a plankton feeder….wouldnt eat a fish nevermind an idiot jumping off a boat. He would have faired better slipping into the water to swim with it instead of trying to jump on it.
Todd M. Gornstein

Mr. Jacobs is my Client. if anyone wishes to obtain comment or appearances I can direct them. Mr. Jacobs is a very considerate/caring person and would never harm anything intentionally. Todd M. Grnstein Esq.

jaygee

I would like to have him appear before 3 doctors at McLean Hospital. Do you think you can set it up Barrister Gornstein? P.S. I think if the shark had bitten off one of his legs, he would get more offers so have him try it again. I hear there are some great whites down the Cape so let him know for me.

Italo

What if the basking shark might have been making love with a great white underneath it, where the guy couldn’t see?? When he jumped on the basker, his lover Jaws might not have appreciated them being pounced on, and tried to eat Mr. Jacobs! :-o
Maggie Jacobs

you sir do not have a clue what you are talking about…for all the poeple that are commenting that live in the New England area, do some research on the creatures that live in this area…he was in NO DANGER and the shark was not harmed.

Kathy H

What another stupid idiot. Next time try to jump a Great White Shark, you’ll end up as a happy meal!

kenny

stupid idiot line

eddwal50

to bad it wasn’t a great white shark even they need food
protected?

If a Basking shark is a protected specie.. then how is this not illegal ?
again in Massachusetts “protected” what doe’s this mean and from and to whom does this supposed word apply to ?
or is protected a feel good word.

because i find it a empty word with no meaning nowadays.

kenny

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

kenny

that eric i know him lol
http://ethicalfutures.wordpress.com HooDatIS?

that shark should have eaten im alive what a loser
http://wp.me/p1sC4M-mL
Gripweed

I hope Eric’s children (if he has any) have more common sense than he does.