The shark then clamped down on his leg and repeatedly dragged Todd under the water, despite his pounding it on the snout and face with his free leg and fist. His friend and other surfers around him began panicking and trying to get out of the water, despite Endris’ calls for help. The shark shook him in a violent display of its sheer power. Then, six dolphins began a defence. They leaped out of the water around Endris, creating whitecaps. They surrounded the victim, slapping their flukes as the water turned red with his blood.

Then, they leaped right over him, creating a spectacle, one which obviously had the desired effect on the Great White, as it soon released Todd’s leg. The dolphins then positioned themselves between the shark and the surfer. Surrounding surfers seized this opportunity to help Todd back on his board and to shore, where the magnitude of his terrible injuries could be seen. His spine and organs were exposed and his leg was bleeding badly. Astoundingly, Todd survived despite the shark’s having missed his aorta by only two millimetres, losing half the volume of blood in his body and requiring over 500 stitches and 200 staples.

Todd Endris had been swimming in one of the areas that constitute the Red Triangle, known for its abundance of sharks. In addition, there are many sea lions and seals in this area; a favourite meal for the Great White Shark. Such an increased population of both predator and prey makes for an increased chance of attack.