Surviving a Shark Attack: Lessons from Chapter 6 of Against the Odds
At Squatch Survival Gear, we know survival doesn’t just happen in the woods or on the battlefield—it can strike in broad daylight at the beach.
In Chapter 6 of How to Survive Against the Odds, we meet Leanne, who’s surfing off the California coast when the unthinkable happens—she’s bitten by a shark.
Let that sink in.
Odds of a shark attack? About 1 in 3.75 million—similar to hitting the Powerball. But unlike winning the lottery, a shark bite leaves you bleeding out, fast. And unlike most “mistaken identity” bites where the shark lets go after realizing it’s not a seal, this one doesn’t end with a nibble. This was a bite and dive.
And that means one thing: You’re dinner.
Why Leanne Survived
When many would panic, Leanne chose to fight. She went for the shark’s eyes—the universal soft spot for most predators—and it worked. She bought just enough time to escape. The damage was devastating. Massive blood loss. Potential amputation. The kind of injury that has seconds ticking down like a shot clock. Fortunately, her friend Dusty, along with lifeguards and emergency crews, kept her alive long enough to transfer her from ambulance to helicopter.
Survival Lessons: Shark Attacks
Here’s what Chapter 6 drills into your brain—because surviving an animal attack starts before the bite:
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Know where sharks lurk. Avoid murky waters, river mouths, and areas with schools of baitfish.
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Stay in a group. Sharks target loners.
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Don’t act like prey. No thrashing, no shiny jewelry, no panicked movement.
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Keep your eyes on the predator. Just like land predators, sharks don’t like to be watched.
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Recognize shark attack types:
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Bump and bite
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Sneak attack
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Bite and dive (most dangerous)
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If bit, fight back. Eyes, gills, snout. You’re not helpless. You’re just not done fighting yet.
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Stop the bleed. Blood loss, not the bite itself, is often what kills.
Keep a tourniquet or trauma kit on hand when you're remote or coastal—yes, even at the beach.
Gear Tip from the Squatch Crew:
If you spend time in remote surf spots, kayaking waters, or backwoods rivers, keep an EDC-sized trauma kit close—preferably in a water-resistant chest rig like The Gnome. It’s not just for show. It’s for blood stoppers, tourniquets, and gauze that can keep you—or someone else—breathing long enough to reach a medic.
Final Thought
Leanne’s survival wasn’t luck. It was grit, awareness, and the right action at the worst possible moment. Against the Odds doesn’t give you fantasy—it gives you reality, and how to walk away from it alive.
Want more real-world survival stories and the gear that can save your life?