Coast Guard sailor uses gunfire to deter shark during Pacific swim call

During a planned swim call in the Pacific Ocean, the crew of the Honolulu-based Coast Guard Cutter Kimball encountered a shark estimated to be 6 to 8 feet long. The predator, believed to be a longfin mako or pelagic thresher, approached a group of approximately 30 to 40 sailors swimming in the open water.

To protect the crew, Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Samuel Cintron fired bursts of ammunition into the water near the shark. The action successfully drove the animal away and allowed the sailors to scramble back to the vessel safely. No serious injuries were reported, aside from a minor scrape sustained by one sailor during the ascent.