A Deadly Surprise: A Shark’s Head Impaled on a Fence
Just when you thought Wednesday’s weather in Sydney was the worst thing to attend to, Marine Rescue NSW found something that made everyone stop and stare. In the chilly morning of June 10, volunteers at Shellharbour – a splash‑down of a weekend out on the water – opened the office and were greeted by a shark head hanging like a grotesque rock‑hanging on a garden fence.
What’s Inside the Head?
Instead of the usual fresh macabre cat, this was a mako shark’s snout stuffed with:
- Loads of cigarette butts (apparently a smoker’s snack for the “big fish”)
- A heap of ocean junk—plastic bottles, nets, you name it
Who (or what) Might Have Been Responsible?
Regional operations manager Bruce Mitchell was the first to speak after the discovery:
“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like this. The shark was fresh, probably caught Saturday. Whoever fetched it cleaned it, cut off the head, and left it there.”
He speculates that someone could have snuck in at night and “played around” with it—just to remind everyone that human curiosity can be a little (or very) wild.
Volunteer Dilemma
The fire‑fighters of the maritime rescue, who’re known for turning “boat emergencies into beachside banquets of courage”, received no threat notices and thus didn’t involve the police. The incident was not only a goose‑bump but also a “kicker in the gut” to the volunteers who sacrifice their time to save lives on the water.
Social Media Response
WhatsApp messages? Nope. Instagram? N/A.Facebook and Twitter were buzzing instead:
- One user on Twitter: “Takes one messed up human to do something like that.”
- Another on Facebook: “Someone with a macabre sense of humour.”
In the end, the incident reinforced the same lesson the volunteers hold: good intentions, careful thinking, and Good Samaritan vibes are what keep our waters safe. This fishy fiasco is a reminder that, when nature meets human eccentricity, it can end up in a story that raises both eyebrows and laughter.
