For anyone still scared of sharks because of the movie Jaws, this real story is truly frightening. A terrible event happened off the coast of New South Wales, Australia. A 63-year-old woman named Christine Armstrong was swimming when a 13-foot shark is believed to have attacked and eaten her—all without anyone noticing right away.
She didn’t feel well
The date was April 3, 2014. Christine, who was an experienced swimmer, went for a regular morning swim with her group. They started from Tathra Wharf and planned to swim to Tathra Beach, about 600 metres away.
Christine had been part of the Tathra Surf Club for years and was known for being strong in the water. But that day, she told her friends she wasn’t feeling well. After swimming about 200 metres, she turned around and headed back on her own, according to The Mirror.
A short time later, the group saw a fin in the water. Birds began flying and diving above the spot—often a sign that a predator is nearby. The group quickly swam back to shore, thinking Christine had already made it back. But she wasn’t there.
A big shark attack
The next day, people found Christine’s goggles, swim cap, and some of her remains on the beach. Her body was never fully found. Experts believe a large shark, possibly a great white, attacked and ate her quickly.
Her husband, Rob Armstrong, who had also been swimming nearby, said: “The shark was so big—it happened so fast. She probably didn’t even know it was happening.”
The Tathra Surf Club, where Christine and her husband Rob had been members for 14 years, shared kind words about her after the tragic event.
“She was experienced and very dedicated,” they said. “Swimming made her happy and helped her make many friends.”
Even though this happened over 11 years ago, Christine’s story still touches people. A YouTube video about the event has recently come back into the spotlight. Many viewers shared their sadness and shock in the comments.
Shark attacks in Australia are not common, but when they do happen, they can be very upsetting—especially when someone loses their life. Christine’s story is a sad but powerful reminder that the ocean can be dangerous, and that it takes courage to face it each day.