WATCH > Video of Five-Year-Old Swimming With Sharks Goes Viral: Were Her Parents Being Reckless?
SodaHead News
2012/07/08 00:07:30
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When they returned from their vacation in the Bahamas, David and Elena Barnes decided to share a home video of their family snorkeling with sharks on YouTube. What was meant to be viewed primarily by friends and relatives quickly went viral, provoking massive amounts of controversy. In the beginning of the 9-minute clip, Power Boat Adventures employees are seen feeding nurse, reef, and lemon sharks. Later in the video, David, Elena, and their five-year-old daughter Anaia are seen swimming with them.
As the video piled up hits, the Internet began chiming in. Many criticized the parents for putting their daughter in danger, while others supported their actions. Eventually, the couple disabled commenting on the video and left a message defending their parenting skills. They explained that these varieties of sharks are rarely aggressive and that the company in the Bahamas has been operating for twenty years without incident.
They also appeared on “Good Morning America” to defend themselves. “Life is too short to be boring,” said Elena. “There’s just always risk assessments in life every day,” added David. “I’m more concerned that they don’t put seatbelts in school buses.”
So, what do you think SodaHeads? Were David and Elena Barnes being reckless?
As the video piled up hits, the Internet began chiming in. Many criticized the parents for putting their daughter in danger, while others supported their actions. Eventually, the couple disabled commenting on the video and left a message defending their parenting skills. They explained that these varieties of sharks are rarely aggressive and that the company in the Bahamas has been operating for twenty years without incident.
They also appeared on “Good Morning America” to defend themselves. “Life is too short to be boring,” said Elena. “There’s just always risk assessments in life every day,” added David. “I’m more concerned that they don’t put seatbelts in school buses.”
So, what do you think SodaHeads? Were David and Elena Barnes being reckless?
Read More: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/07/pare...
I think people are terribly uneducated about sharks. The fear people have of sharks is not justified - especially when we are talkin' about reef, nurse, or lemon sharks, as we are here. I wouldn't hesitate to allow my five year old to get in the water. A Great White? A Tiger? Now, that might be a different story.
I love the quote from David, "I'm more concerned that they don't put seatbelts in school buses." I agree 100%!
FIFTEEN EIGHTY! I'm sure Barbie dolls have injured more people than lemon sharks
But really? First time for everything is like saying a child shouldn't play in their own garden incase an airplace falls out of the sky - there's a first time for everything!
Most parents have to made educated guesses with the information they are given regarding whether they should allow their child to do something - and weight up dangers with the desire for their child to be educated and experience the world.
As a social worker, I can tell you if someone reported this child's parents, I would investigate and close the case as soon as physically possible because MY involvement would be more damaging to the child than the shark
22 people were attacked by Lemon sharks. And the 27 who were attacked by Nurse sharks and the people who were attacked by Reef sharks.
As of early 2009, 11 unprovoked attacks and 21 attacks total (none fatal) were listed on the International Shark Attack File that are attributable to the blacktip reef shark
As of early 2009, 11 unprovoked attacks and 21 attacks total (none fatal) were listed on the International Shark Attack File that are attributable to the blacktip reef shark
Partial list out of 100, of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks in the United States
Lucas McKaine Ransom, 19 October 22, 2010 Great white shark Ransom died after a great white shark pulled him off his bodyboard just before 9 a.m. about 100 yards (91 m) off Surf Beach near Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. He suffered the loss of his left leg, resulting in massive blood loss. On October 25, 2010, the Santa Barbara County coroner confirmed the species as great white after conferring with shark experts from the Los Angeles-based Shark Research Committee. The shark that attacked Ransom is believed to have been 17–18 feet (5.2–5.5 m) long, weighing approximately 4,000 pounds (1,814 kg)
Richard A. Snead, 60 September 12, 2009 Unconfirmed Snead died while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at twilight off the beach in the Whale Head Bay area of Corolla, North Carolina, near mile post 4½. His body was found washed up on the beach in Kill Devi...
As of early 2009, 11 unprovoked attacks and 21 attacks total (none fatal) were listed on the International Shark Attack File that are attributable to the blacktip reef shark
Partial list out of 100, of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks in the United States
Lucas McKaine Ransom, 19 October 22, 2010 Great white shark Ransom died after a great white shark pulled him off his bodyboard just before 9 a.m. about 100 yards (91 m) off Surf Beach near Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. He suffered the loss of his left leg, resulting in massive blood loss. On October 25, 2010, the Santa Barbara County coroner confirmed the species as great white after conferring with shark experts from the Los Angeles-based Shark Research Committee. The shark that attacked Ransom is believed to have been 17–18 feet (5.2–5.5 m) long, weighing approximately 4,000 pounds (1,814 kg)
Richard A. Snead, 60 September 12, 2009 Unconfirmed Snead died while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at twilight off the beach in the Whale Head Bay area of Corolla, North Carolina, near mile post 4½. His body was found washed up on the beach in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.[9] Final autopsy results, released on January 5, 2010, concluded Snead's death appeared to be from drowning. This conclusion conflicted, however, with an initial autopsy conducted at East Carolina University which said he died of shark bites.
Nahid Davoodabai, 29 March 18, 1999 Unconfirmed, presumed to be a tiger shark This unconfirmed fatal attack occurred in channel waters off the west coast of Maui, Hawaii. The victim's husband, Manoucher Monazzami, stated to authorities that he and his wife were blown offshore while kayaking late in the afternoon. Their double kayak capsized repeatedly in rough channel waters, and Davoodabai was soon unable to get back onto the kayak due to fatigue. She was attacked at dusk by a "large shark", losing her arm. Monazzami was unable to control his injured wife's bleeding or keep her body on the kayak due to ocean conditions. Monazzami was found two days later on nearby Kahoolawe island with the kayak, paddles, and a life jacket. His wife's body was never recovered. Some investigators did not believe this version of events.
As of early 2009, 11 unprovoked attacks and 21 attacks total (none fatal) were listed on the International Shark Attack File that are attributable to the blacktip reef shark.