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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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vbliss
vbliss
1 year ago
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I have seen dolphins and they are beautiful. They have the cutest noise.. I under stand they are very smart and very useful.
 
lizardlover27
lizardlover27
1 year ago
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Dolphins have the urge to help humans. They are very smart and very protective. I wonder if the dolphins return to this area very much
 
lizardlover27
lizardlover27
1 year ago
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I love dolphns, I have a collection of dolphin stuff. I have read a few books on dolphins and they do protect their territory and anyone in trouble it seems, I am glad they appeared at this time the surfer was so lucky. I am glad he is recovering..
 
chiefwab
chiefwab
1 year ago
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I wonder if the surfer has surfed there before. I wonder if the dolphins frequent there.
 
chiefwab
chiefwab
1 year ago
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I have seen these beautiful dolphins in the ocean. They are a site you would never forget. Smart and protector they are. This is good for the surfer. glad he will be Ok and glad the dolphins are OK.
 
GRAM B.
GRAM B. (paweba)
1 year ago
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For was his surfer lucky. I am wondering if he surfs here regularly.. Has he been surfing in this area recently.
 
GRAM B.
GRAM B. (paweba)
1 year ago
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Dolphins are proving more and more they are very intelligent. They seem to know when someone or something is in trouble. I wonder if any one has seen these dolphins in that area sense this happened
 
jacquie b.
jacquie b. (jacquieb)
1 year ago
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i thought that only happened on tv
 
tabchance
tabchance
1 year ago
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Wow. Just WOW
 
LIZ R.
LIZ R. (LIZRICH)
1 year ago
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AMAZING
 
Brenda
Brenda (BrendaM)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 3 users liked it.
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Dolphins are great and smart - and Asia needs to stop killing them!
 
Hannah S.
Hannah S. (JupiterSunrise)
1 year ago
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god, i love dolphins so much. they seem to do this any time they run into a situation like this. like the time they saved that pregnant woman. man.....they are amazing creatures.
 
MikeT6pets
MikeT6pets
1 year ago
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I've heard of this before and it is an amazing story. Dolphins are truly amazing
 
Jackie H.
Jackie H. (Jackie083)
1 year ago
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Dolphins are awesome!
 
Laurel C.
Laurel C. (Imissbailey)
1 year ago
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Amazing
 
chrissy
chrissy (lilchrissy199)
1 year ago
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i hear things about these amazing animals all the time, i forget what it was but it was something on tv, a news thing i think, that they are finding out that dolphins seem to feel the need to help humans. they are amazing animals.
 
Rachels
Rachels (bowwowwoff)
1 year ago
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that is adorable the dolphins saved his life :]

and i think that sharks see surfers like a seal, thats why they attack us.
 
Jeanie M.
Jeanie M. (muttlvr)
1 year ago
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What an amazing story. Aren't dolphins afraid of sharks? Why would they risk their lives for him? God truly had intervened - and his angels this time could swim.
 
Jessie G.
Jessie G. (tamedtigress)
1 year ago
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its amazing how dolphins seem to cling to us as we do them . . . what wonderful creatures
 
KatharineStayduhar
KatharineStayduhar
1 year ago
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Dolphins are such amazing creatures. We may never truly understand or appreciate the depth of these fine creatures talents and skills.
 
Jessica F.
Jessica F. (frosty73)
1 year ago
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Dolphins are amazing creatures.
 
Mary M.
Mary M. (mandygirl)
1 year ago
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Amazing. And we still insist on using these amazing animals for tourist's entertainment.
 
Wyoming County S.
Wyoming County S. (wcspca1)
1 year ago
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dolphins are amazing animals. they protect even when humans hurt them
 
rjlupinskat
rjlupinskat
1 year ago
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What an amazing and wonderful story. Dolphins are such intelligent creatures. Hooray for the dolphins. ;-)
 
meowlover
meowlover
1 year ago
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Dolphins are amazing!
 
Pennie
Pennie (BoBBunny)
1 year ago
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Dolphins are AWESOME! lucky guy he is! Very cool story!
 
Amanda N.
Amanda N. (AQHAlover17)
1 year ago
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i am scared of oceans more becuase of all the shark attacks that have been going on i wish that there was someway to stop it.. but i guess right now there isnt.
 
Anne W.
Anne W. (hyjinxannie)
1 year ago
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Amazing these dolphins, this is great the durfer willl be ok. I am glad this story is available to read.
 
lizardlover27
lizardlover27
1 year ago
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I just read a bok about dolphins how very smart and protective they are. It is in their instincts. Glad the surfer is OK.
 
Kirstin T.
Kirstin T. (kirst3buns)
1 year ago
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The more I hear about dolphins the more amazed I am by them.
 
chiefwab
chiefwab
1 year ago
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Dolphins saved the guys life. That is great
 
Mindy L.
Mindy L. (CodaPeaches)
1 year ago
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Good thing the dolphins were there. He could have been a lot worse.
 
GRAM B.
GRAM B. (paweba)
1 year ago
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I have read about this before, dolphins will circle and protect humans and pets.
 
Sarah L.
Sarah L. (sawah82)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 2 users liked it.
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Thank God the dolphins came along. This is why I am scared to get in the ocean anymore. SHARKS
 
MollyGracieWaffles
MollyGracieWaffles
1 year ago
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As I understand it, dolphins will frequently circle and protect people or pets from sharks. They are amazing.
 
missyscove
missyscove
1 year ago
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This is a really interesting story.
 
Katie D.
Katie D. (tundrakatiebean)
1 year ago
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Yay dolphins!
 
Vanessa J.
Vanessa J. (aboutmyeyes)
1 year ago
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Dolphins are so awesome--I find that all animals are awesome in one way or another.
 
sarah s.
sarah s. (BlueDragonfly)
1 year ago
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OMG! That is amazing! I love these kinds of stories where an animal saves the life of a human.
 
Lyn
Lyn (MikeLyn)
1 year ago
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It's a well-known fact that this type of behavior occurs with dolphins & humans. This is not the first and I certainly hope not the last time dolphins come to the aid of humans. Storiesof them "swimming" a human back to shore have been reported as well.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
janet b.
janet b. (janetbrookfield)
1 year ago
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Dolphines are very smart wonderful animals.
 
trish726
trish726
1 year ago
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Cool Great story
 
hailstheanimalluver1
hailstheanimalluver1
1 year ago
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wow im glad that the guy is ok
 
peach
peach
1 year ago
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I've heard stories like this before regarding dolphins. What fabulous creatures they are!
 
fkmny345
fkmny345
1 year ago
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Another great reason why we don't eat or harm them.
 
nfdemtp74
nfdemtp74
1 year ago
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It's stories like this that remind me how much I've always loved dolphins.
 
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn (WickedFan)
1 year ago
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dolphins sound like really intelligent animals
 
smlhelps
smlhelps
1 year ago
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I LOVE DOLPHINS SUCH GRACEFUL ANIMALS GLAD TO SEE THEY SAVED A MANS LIFE.
 
Elineen
Elineen
1 year ago
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wow, what an amazing story. Way to go dolphins. I'm also pretty impressed with this guy going back out into the water. I'm not sure I would go just after hearing this story, let alone having it happen to me!!
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