Octopus attacks aren’t uncommon and were frequent in the past which is why people regarded the octopus as an evil creature. Of course now times have changed and the same evil creature is now a delicacy in many exotic restaurants around the world. However as small as the attacks were, there was some that made it to headlines news in various journals. Take a look at 10 such octopus attacks.
We all know that an octopus emits an inky like substance to ward off predators; the irony is that this diver was named Inkster too and was attacked by an octopus in 1881. The attack happened approximately four meters below the surface at Kingston Jetty, Australia. Although Inkster speared the creature, he was unable to remove the weapon. He escaped, dived to the surface, got a crow bar and dived back again to finish off the octopus which was measured to be 10 feet.
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In 1928, two siblings, a girl 14 and a boy 22 went for a swim in Stanley bay, New Zealand. It was low tide so they decided to go further than usual into the water when an octopus appeared out of the blue and attacked the girl and tried to drag her under. Even as the brother tried to fight the octopus it let off its black ink and grabbed his thigh. The boy managed to free his sister from the tentacles and escape himself. He realized it was not a very big creature as its tentacles looked not more than four feet.
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In 1891, a diver was working on the salvaging process of a wreck off the coast of New Zealand when an octopus grabbed him in an embrace trying to squeeze him. Luckily for the diver, he was able to signal his men above the surface who pulled him up. As the octopus tried crushing the man, his team members killed it.
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In 1919, two parents foolishly thought it would be safe placing their year old baby on the water’s edge at the Spit, Australia. Fortunately, the parents acted promptly when an octopus lunged at the baby attempting to grab it. There was no serious damage and although the octopus was just 3 feet in length, it would have been enough to drag the baby under.
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In 1954, James Antone of California was attacked by an octopus. Even though he weighed 120 kg, the creature tried to drag him down wrapping its tentacles around his body. It was almost impossible to rip the tentacles off his body and though there were people around, they were too scared to help. Ultimately he grabbed its head and dragged it to a nearby rock and dashed the octopus head against it. The impact made the creature let go. The octopus weighed 18 kg and was five feet long.
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While Gordon Hastie was fishing off the Peppin Island Coast in 1952 his line got stuck. When he tried to free his line in waist deep water an octopus grabbed his ankle and pulled him down a deep hole. It also clouded his vision with black ink. Hastie pulled out a knife and slashed the tentacles which made the creature lose hold. Although he escaped, the octopus managed to take a bite of a small bit of his little finger.
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When Local fishermen at Landou France caught an octopus, they displayed it in a large tank for tourists. Unfortunately one five year old boy put his hands into the tank. The octopus wrapped a tentacle around the boy’s wrist and tried pulling him into the tank. His mother fainted on the spot and women screamed all around. The prompt action of a young man with a knife who slashed the octopus was enough to save the boy.
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Charlie Edwards was a diving suit designer. In 1938, he was testing a new invention that featured a copper helmet, extra weights, and lead weighted sandals. While walking underwater, he startled an octopus who coiled itself around his helmet. He was also stung by a sting ray in the process. However, Edwards survived by resurfacing with the octopus still on his head.
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Tattershall Dodd will never forget the day in 1922 when she was attacked by an octopus on Pardigon beach, France. While wading in deep water, an octopus wrapped itself around her knees. One of her friends then rushed to help her attacking the creature with a walking stick. After repeated blows, it finally let her go. The octopus was killed a few hours later. It measured five feet four inches.
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While fishing off St Brelade, Jersey in 1922, a fisherman got the fright of his life when a tentacle appeared out of nowhere and circled the mast of his boat. Another tentacle then grabbed his legs. The fisherman recovered his wits and stabbed the tentacles. Another fisherman passing by came to the rescue and freed the fisherman.
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