May 13 2008
Shark Attack Risk of Death…
With all the recent shark attacks and hysteria surrounding them in the media, I decided to look up some statistics on shark attacks and death. The International Shark Attack File has tons of good information and statistics on shark attacks. This page compares the risk of death of shark attacks to everything from an alligator attacks to a “collapsing sand hole incident.” And according to their graph below what you’ve heard is true, you’re far more likely to die from a lightning strike or fireworks than from a shark attack (let alone heart disease, car accident, or multiple drug-resistant bacteria). So buckle up, wear a helmet, watch out for collapsing sand hole, and surf your brains out.
Check our post on annual number of shark attack and deaths (here).
You know I read all these statistics about how surfing is safer that blowing off fireworks in a lightning storm while driving, but there is a nagging con here. It seems to use the overall population as the divisor. What are the odds of you happen to be a person who surfs the West Coast?
What are the odds if you are planning a surf trip to Guerrero?
Chris
Addendum to up above: the way I see it, three people were chomped in Guerrero in a month. There are possibly 150 people in the water up and the coast on any given day. Therefore the odds of getting bit are 150 x 30/3 or 1 in 1500. That makes it 2,498 times more likely that you will get eaten in Gurerro than the odds above. However, I am planning a month trip to Guerro and expect I will be in the water for 30 days. That would seem to make my odds 1 in 50, or slightly better than death by hostpital infection. Hmm. At least the waves will be less crowded - with surfers.
Chris, interestingly enough I just email George Burgess who’s the head scientist at the International Shark Attack File (where I got the number and charts from) and asked him how being a surfer affects the shark attack statistics. He actually did a study and crunched the numbers on beach goers (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/beachattacks.htm)
and found similar risk of death (actually risk of death in this case was 0).
As for Guerrero, the numbers down there aren’t good. You should consider heading up to Michoacan. We scored great waves up there. If you stay in Guerrero, you’ll probably have the Ranch and Saladita to yourself.
[...] hype, shark attacks and related fataties are still excedingly rare. Check out our post on your chances on dying from a shark attack in relation to other causes of death. Point is, you’re still more likely to die of a [...]
[...] Smyra Beach in 2008 alone is 1/3 of the global attacks of 2007! I posted earlier on statistics of the risk of death from a shark attack (pretty much nill), but I wouldn’t discount a risk of an attack in New [...]
i was eaten by a shark and pooed out
DANG!!!! only 1 in 3,748,067 people die from shark attack!!!
This picture is so stupid and really annoying but is was o.k!!!!!!!!!!
Bye
Who is that girl anyway a friend of yours? J.K SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sharks are dangorus because they can eat you.
i wana go an swim wiv sharks like reaally so any 1 who feels the same drop a message through sayin kirstie i feel the same 2 …
thank u ;x
i think evryone is so stupid and ask stupid quetion too!!!!!!!
I am a scuba diver and I migrate to coast as often as possible diving the California coastline between Ft. Bragg and Monterey.
Greatwhites frequent these waters and hunt while here, but I have not once ran into one. But I fear my days are numbered and at some point I will have an encounter. This has not swayed my drive to enter the water, infact it has encouraged me to learn everything I can about the sharks I may encounter, primarily the Greatwhite. I have learned that in 20 years there has only been one scuba diver killed at depth by a greatwhite. Most attacks from Greatwhites occur at the surface, this in part is due to the sharks attack behaviour, greatwhites are a hit and run shark who does not like to enter into combat with its prey. Altho Greatwhites have been known to do exploratory bites on divers, injuring but not killing or eating them. Those who are most at risk are Abalogne divers and surfers and those who choose to swim on or near the surface. I have often wanted to take a cage dive trip to the Farrollan islands to experience an upclose encounter with the Greatwhite and get some pics, but it is an expensive trip and will have to wait till I have some money burning a hole in my pockets. I wish to know more about sharks, but dont want to get eaten in the process of diving and learning.
i have a phobea of sharks and im eleven. They hav to many teeth for my likin and they scare the hell out of me. I never never never want to be in a sea with a tiger, great white or any other mean sharks!
love Lobbus xxxx
ps I love club penguin!!
Pss i used my username on this
i still dont like sharks. Do you think a Bull shark is ugly? I do they are hidious! And they dont even wear clothes! I bet the girl sharks are not impressed by their blubber. I wouldnt be. Oh yeah i think the picture is stupid i mean that would not happen! And the girl isnt very good looking even if she is thin!
Love loobus xxx
P.s. Frank you dont have to be so Tecnical about it its not like you’re a really diver.
P.s.s. Sorry Frank. You ARE a really diver but still i bet u dont want to get eaten by a shark! Or do u?????!!!
P.s.s.s Peter Pan me too.
You know, more people get wounded from vending machines than a shark.
yh but there are more people using vending machines than people swimming in shark waters what we want to know is how many people swim in the sea to how many people get eaten
[...] Your Risk of Dying of a Shark Attack [...]
I have a phobia about Sharks, I have done since the Movie Jaws, I have not been in the sea since. At the time the Movie was released 1975 I think, I was living In England a place not famous for Shark attacks. I am now living in Australia a place very famous for Shark attacks and I wont even dip a toe in the water. come to think of it Australia is also famous for Crock attacks, deadly Snakes, and spiders and other scary things like - Australians .
That is a Load. People die from shark attacks every day. It just dosn’t get recorded because the people who get eaten, no one seems to care about. That stupid chart is wrong. That is stright shark propaganda. But if you think it is safe to go into the water, before you do go look at the pics on swimatyourownrisk.com. Check out the shark attack pics and ask yourself ” Is the dumb thrill of surfing really worth looking like that the rest of my life?” Even if the chances (according to the chart) are really high,(they are not, your in the water, sharks are in the water. it is going to happen.) Wouldn,t you feel like an idiot if (when) you got attacked. If you have anything to say or just want to talk about how right i am, Please contact me at cottonmcknight7@hotamil.com
heh, michael you’re funny….. every day? lol
HELLO!
same ever since i saw jaws im fricking terrified of them but my mum is a bull shark so i guess that means im dissing myself. Opppsy daisy! Atually i LOVE sharks! heee hee who am i kidding! anyhow any one who doesnt like sharks type I HAVE A TINY WEINER!! thxs
THE CHART IS BULL SHARK!
damn u