Bolton swimmer’s escape after being attacked by a shark TWICE

Chris Murray, 54, was attempting a 20-mile crossing from Catalina Island to Los Angeles in the early hours of Tuesday September 30, when a three to four foot Great White shark struck just over two hours into his swim.

Mr Murray, a lawyer, who has previously conquered the English Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar was completing the third leg of the gruelling Ocean Seven challenge, a series of some of the world’s toughest open-water swims.

Mr Murray said: “I was swimming well, swimming fast. I was very pleased with it. And then about two and a quarter hours in, I felt a really nasty bite.

“I managed to get the shark off my hand, and then it came round and latched onto my foot. So I had to kick it off my foot.

“I went to my Kayak alongside me and we couldn’t really see what it was as it was pitch black.

“Then the big support boat put their big torchlight on the sea behind me, and I saw the shark coming back towards me again, probably for another nibble. So they told me to get out.”

Reflecting on the ordeal, Murray said extreme sports carry real risk, and this time, “it was my turn”(Image: Chris Murray)

The attack happened around 2.30am in pitch-black conditions, with a kayak on one side and a support boat on the other.

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Mr Murray was treated in hospital for deep wounds to his left hand and right foot, receiving between 50 and 60 stitches.

He said: “I had a bite to my left hand and really deep cuts and lacerations to my right foot.

“The left hand was just like a flap of skin lifted and sewn back on, it just missed my radial artery which was fortunate.

“But the foot which continues to be a bit of a problem, was basically down to the bone above my heel pad, ripped all the way around the ankle, with deep puncture wounds just in front of the ankle right to the bone.

“There was just blood pouring out.”

The shark bit Chris Murray’s hand and foot during the night-time swim, leaving deep wounds requiring up to 60 stitches(Image: Chris Murray)

After being treated and stitched, he was discharged within four hours and a few days later flew home to the UK, where he is continuing his recovery.

Despite the ordeal Mr Murray said the incident hasn’t put him off swimming for good- though he admits recovery comes first.

He said: “I need to get repaired first, I want to be able to walk again, before I even begin to think about that.

“I’ve had a good level of light-hearted support from my fellow teammates at the Stratford Dolphins Water Polo club.

“I’m also grateful for the NHS and district nurses who have helped.”

Reflecting on the incident he said it was a reminder of the risks that come with extreme challenges.

He added: “Humans tend to think it won’t happen to them.

“We planned for eventualities, its an extreme sport, that’s why you do all the planning the preparation the training.

“You don’t want it to happen but it can.

“Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong and it was my turn that day.”

Murray said the pain of getting his stitches removed afterwards was “a nine out of ten” on the pain scale(Image: Chris Murray)

Despite the set back Mr Murray says he feels both lucky and unlucky.

He said he feels lucky to be alive but disappointed not to have completed the swim.

Mr Murray had spent six months training for the challenge and has already raised £3,000 for UNICEF.

Source – INDIA TV