High school student regrets jumping into shark tank on 'dare'
A high school student said he regrets following through on a “dare” to jump into a shark tank at an aquarium.
The student, who remains anonymous, told Fox 5 he jumped into a shark tank at Living Coast Discovery Center in California on Tuesday during a field trip.
He added he did it for cash and a designer belt. Video shows him swimming in the tank among sharks and stingrays while fellow students encourage him.
Sweetwater Union High School District officials said supervisors were on the field trip with students but weren’t present at the exhibit where the boy dived into the tank.
Officials said the incident was “unfortunate and regrettable”.
The aquarium added in a statement it’s “disappointed and saddened” but thankfully no animals or guests were hurt.
The boy said he regrets his decision to dive into the tank but wants to atone for his actions through 30 hours of community service.
“I’m looking forward to helping them out after what I did,” he told Fox 5.
“I want to apologise to all the chaperones there and all the teachers that were there, making them look bad.”
According to Living Coast Discovery’s website, the aquarium features leopard sharks, diamond rays, swell sharks and horn sharks.
None of these species are known to be particularly harmful to humans.
In March 2017, a smitten teen claimed he was dared by a British backpacker to swim in croc-infested waters in Innisfail, Far North Queensland.
Unfortunately, 18-year-old Lee de Paauw’s act did little to impress Sophie Paterson, 18, and he was left nursing two broken bones and two gouges to his arm after fighting off a saltwater crocodile.
“I’m looking forward to helping them (the aquarium’s staff) out after what I did,” the student told Fox 5.
Ms Paterson also denied she encouraged him to jump in the water.
In February 2018, a Northern Territory duo decided to go for a dip in the Adelaide River next to the iconic Original Jumping Crocodiles Cruise sign.
Peter Wardill and Nano Burslem got a photo in waist-deep water next to the sign enjoying a beer.
The pair insisted the situation was under control though – they weren’t intoxicated and have encountered crocodiles and snakes in the past.
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