A couple in Hawaii is lucky to be alive after having to fight off a massive tiger shark while kayaking. The two came face to face with the massive animal while off the coast of Olowalu.
The incident happened on May 23. Speaking to Hawaii News Now, Cheslei Akima and Alika Dickerson recounted their encounter with the tiger shark, which "all of a sudden, like 10 feet in front of the kayak, a fin sticks up."
"I'm thinking to myself, 'What is that?' And then it starts coming at us," she said. The tiger shark, which was larger than their kayak, grabbed hold of their watercraft and began shaking it around.
"He wouldn't let go," Akima said. Trying to scare off the animal, Dickerson hit the shark twice. But it held on.
"On the third time, it finally let go. It sank down a little bit and just splashed us with its tail, swimming away," he told the outlet. "I was in shock."
Couple Fights Tiger Shark
The couple made it to shore fortunately with just tiger shark bites on their kayak.
"It was just so crazy," Akima said.
"Tigers are considered the most dangerous sharks in Hawaiian waters," the agency states. "Because of their size and feeding habits, tigers occupy the very top niche in inshore feeding relationships."
However, the agency notes, "It's not known why tiger sharks sometimes bite humans."
Fortunately, for the couple, they escaped without any injuries themselves. Despite the close encounter, the two still plan to go back to the water soon.
"Gotta get back," Dickerson said.
Akima also added: "We're actually determined to go back this weekend."
