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Shark Attack Thwarted by Dolphins

by Matt Van Hoven

Browse News

BY CATEGORY:
BY PET:

November 14, 2007

CALIFORNIA – On August 28th, Todd Endris was attacked by a great white shark as he waded off the coast of Monterey, California. He says he's only alive today because a pod of dolphins came to his rescue.

The 24 year-old surfer says he was sitting on his board when the 12-15 foot long shark attacked – striking him three times at his leg and torso - peeling the skin off his back like a banana.

It was soon after that moment that a pod of bottle-nosed dolphins intervened, forming a protective ring around him. It was that protection that gave Endris enough time to catch a wave back to shore.

He reached shore bloody and pale - a friend he was with wasn't sure Endris would make it. After being flown via helicopter to a hospital, doctors were able to stitch the surfer up.

Four months and lots of rehab later, Endris is is still in recovery. After all, his leg was severed to the bone – and then there's his back. He says it only took six weeks before he was back out in the surf - overcoming a fear that before last August, he never imagined to be possible.

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Tags

heroes, dolphin, shark, animal attacks, other pets

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826 comments found.
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kbehrendt
kbehrendt
5 months ago
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Wow... that's a heck of a fear to overcome
 
Wendy H.
Wendy H. (trainerWendy)
7 months ago
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I love those dolphins. I wonder why they acted like that? Was as if he was one of them? I don't know why a dolphin would "think about" saving a human.
 
kathy
kathy (aaaaaaaaaaaaa)
7 months ago
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What a great story
 
Janice K.
Janice K. (gabbygizmo)
8 months ago
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Dolphins are very smart.
 
boyscoutdad
boyscoutdad
8 months ago
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I've heard that dolphins are pretty smart.
 
Christy M.
Christy M. (mallingc)
8 months ago
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Dolphins are great. One of the recent articles have them saving some whales who needed to get out of a bay or something. They are so smart.
 
Dan4cats
Dan4cats
8 months ago
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Dolphins are great
 
sally r.
sally r. (KAR28)
8 months ago
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You hear the stories of dolphins saving humans from sharks. It amazes me that a huge, great white won't attack even one of the dolphins. The shark is bigger with a powerful bite!
 
shellguy
shellguy
8 months ago
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I've heard about dolphins being able to run off sharks. Lucky for the surfer these guys were around.
 
liberalizzy
liberalizzy
8 months ago
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Amazing animals!
 
Tammy1989
Tammy1989
8 months ago
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Dolphins are great. Not sure I'd go back out there....
 
CMiller4
CMiller4
8 months ago
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Dolphins are amazing animals. I can't believe that guy has found enough courge to go back out there. I would be way to scared.
 
Erin H.
Erin H. (browniejoe2)
8 months ago
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Dolphins are incredible animals. How lucky for this surfer to be saved by the dolphins!
 
Darcy H.
Darcy H. (Haimer1)
8 months ago
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Dolphins are truly awesome. Just makes me stop to think why did they do what they did for the man. This man is very lucky thanks to the dolphins!
 
JIM K.
JIM K. (jimmkol)
8 months ago
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rubbish i think he lied.
 
Cindi K.
Cindi K. (tinaturner)
8 months ago
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great story, dolphins do amazing things for people and we dont know why
 
deb a.
deb a. (rodeodeb)
8 months ago
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Dolphins are amazing animals and you regularly see stories about these magnificant animals doing an amazing feet
 
taishan
taishan
8 months ago
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Dolphins are incredible animals. It makes you wonder why they would put themselves in danger to help a person.
 
Carole D.
Carole D. (CED)
8 months ago
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How lucky for this surfer that the dolphins were nearby and that they reacted as they did. We may not know why they did this, but they certainly saved his life.
 
sunnysdad
sunnysdad
8 months ago
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How cool to be rescued by dolphins!
 
houstonj
houstonj
8 months ago
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I have heard of Dolphins doing this, animals are just amazing...
 
bonzosmom
bonzosmom
8 months ago
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Dolphins are so amazing. Not sure why they want to help us, we have not been good to them.
 
Liz M.
Liz M. (Morton72)
8 months ago
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Thats cool,dolphins are amazing
 
Liann L.
Liann L. (Liann)
8 months ago
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I've heard of dolphins doing things like this. I think they've also helped divers as well. Very cool.
 
Carl
Carl (laurbit)
8 months ago
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I've always heard such wonderful things about dolphins.
 
naomi j.
naomi j. (dreammom03)
8 months ago
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What amazing things that happen. I have a fasination for dolphins & this only makes me want to be around them more than ever. I feel for the man & I am glad that he is ok & that the dolphins are ok.
 
HomePro
HomePro
8 months ago
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I agree...dolphins are amazing creatures.
 
Janet
Janet (JanetsZoo)
8 months ago
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Dolphins are truly AMAZING animals.
 
AmandaCMHS
AmandaCMHS
8 months ago
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This is amazing-its so sweet that they know and want to help!
 
Michele C.
Michele C. (pattimichele)
8 months ago
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I have heard of similar stories involving dolphins coming to the rescue. It is still amazing
 
BHOLTZ
BHOLTZ
8 months ago
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Great story!
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
9 months ago
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ShellyBelly1
ShellyBelly1
9 months ago
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Dolphins are beautiful intelligent creatures...this story is amazing
 
Rebecca L.
Rebecca L. (Becca0815)
9 months ago
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I saw this show on animal planet that kept showing all these stories on how dolphins saved people from shark attacks. they are amazing.
 
Geoff L.
Geoff L. (glcats)
9 months ago
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Dolphins are amazing creatures. He was lucky they were there.
 
DDRau
DDRau
9 months ago
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OMG how horrible for him. Lucky that the dolphins were in the neighborhood and took a proactive approach.
 
Sara D.
Sara D. (twiztedfingerz)
9 months ago
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That is soo cool that the dolphins helped save this man. I hope he gets back out there to surf!! Surfing is just awesome!!!
 
L.H.S.
L.H.S. (libertyshelter)
10 months ago
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One of God's best creatures. What wonderful, intelligent spirits they are!
 
RichardK
RichardK
10 months ago
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Whether they were there to help the swimmer or chase after a natural enemy - they are amazing animals.
 
mcfalls97
mcfalls97
10 months ago
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Dolphins will often drive sharks from an area. They are also known to rescue swimmers in distress as well as push drowning victims back to shore. They are such amazing creatures.
 
Michaelyn
Michaelyn (MichaelynL)
10 months ago
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Amen!
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
10 months ago
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Paige B.
Paige B. (PaigeBU)
10 months ago
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holy wow that is like flipper - ha I wonder what made them do that- go dolphins!
 
lori
lori (paawsproject)
10 months ago
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Dolphins are awesome!
 
Michaelyn
Michaelyn (MichaelynL)
11 months ago
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Another best friend of man!
 
Meg S.
Meg S. (drambuie)
11 months ago
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I have always heard that dolphins, beside man, are the sharks only enemy. They are an amazing mammal and I am sure this surfer's new best friends!
 
Love dolphins!
 
Ralph M.
Ralph M. (Ralph1)
11 months ago
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I believe I saw this on discovery channel. Dolphins are amazing.
 
Andy K.
Andy K. (Krochalk)
11 months ago
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Dolphins are amazing animals. I wish there was a way to understand them better. Reminds me of the Far Side cartoon where scientists are trying to understand dolphin language. On the blackboard is a list of sounds they are able to decipher. The one listening says something along the lines of - "Here's another one of those sounds "Ah blas ess pan yol" (Hablas espanol?).
 
Judy A.
Judy A. (rujual)
11 months ago
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What a nice story. I think we only know the tip of the ice berg regarding dolphins. They are probably capable of much more than we give them credit.
Bless them.
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