Beached shark pulled to safety by New Brunswick teen

In New Brunswick, a 15-year-old teen named Finn Holland discovered a shark on the shore near his home and took it upon himself to save the animal. His family had learned about the beached shark from a neighbor, and they traveled to the edge of Maces Bay on the west coast of the Bay of Fundy, approximately 48 kilometers southwest of Saint John.

Holland explained to Global News that he had initially not planned to help the shark but changed his mind upon arriving and noticing its injuries and weakened state. The shark was lying on its back when his family arrived, so Holland began by turning it onto its stomach and carefully touched its tail fin to confirm it was not reacting.

Realizing the shark was severely exhausted and struggling to move, Holland then started pulling it by its tail about six meters into the water, taking about 10 minutes to guide it into the ocean. The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory confirmed that the shark was a porbeagle shark, a native cold-water species commonly found in Atlantic Canadian waters, including the Bay of Fundy.

Jeffrey Gallant, the scientific director of the observatory, praised Holland's actions, stating that they were the right thing to do to give the shark its best chance of survival. However, Gallant cautioned that the shark might not have survived even with Holland's assistance, as stranded sharks are often severely stressed, ill, injured, or psychologically compromised.

The community applauded Holland's determination, with Fundy Shores Mayor Denny Cogswell posting on Facebook to thank him for his efforts in helping return the shark safely to the water. Holland himself described the experience as "crazy" but is glad he helped the shark.