A dramatic scene unfolded on Monday afternoon at Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York, when a large and vulnerable thresher shark washed up on the shore, struggling to return to the ocean. The incident was captured in a 32-second video by witness Zoe Berger, showing the shark frantically thrashing its body and tail as waves relentlessly pushed it further onto the sand.
In the video, the shark’s desperate attempts to reach the safety of the water are evident, its powerful body twisting from side to side. Fortunately, three Good Samaritans stepped in to help the distressed creature. One of the rescuers, Gio Barillias, played a key role in guiding the shark back into deeper water. Barillias, despite feeling fear, grabbed the shark’s fin and repeatedly redirected it toward the ocean.
“I was scared,” Barillias admitted in an interview with the New York Daily News, “but I had to do something about it and not just be one of those people standing around with their cellphones taking video.” Reflecting on the experience, he added, “His or her skin was like sandpaper. The body language was in shock. It was survival mode.”
Their brave efforts were successful, and the shark eventually made its way back into the deeper waters near the jetty, according to Storyful. The incident highlights the growing number of shark sightings at Rockaway Beach, a popular destination for New Yorkers.
Earlier this summer, parts of the beach were temporarily closed due to shark activity but were reopened to the public after monitoring the situation. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has since stepped up its efforts to ensure public safety. “Our drones will continue to monitor the waters for any other shark sightings or swimmers in distress,” said NYPD Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry in a July statement. “Our goal is to keep the public safe, and with new and improving drone technology, we are able to do that.”
This event serves as a reminder of the importance of quick and courageous action in the face of nature’s unpredictability, as well as the ongoing efforts to balance public safety with the natural behavior of marine life.