UPDATE: A Bolton father, Chris Murra, bravely fought off a four-foot-long Great White shark during a harrowing swimming challenge in the Catalina Channel just off the coast of Los Angeles on December 30, 2025. This shocking encounter occurred while he was attempting to complete a 20-mile open water swim in pitch darkness.
The ordeal began shortly after Murra set off with a group of swimmers in the early hours of the morning. Just before his departure, his daughter Eleanor Murra, 23, had given him a card with a chilling warning: “don’t get eaten by a shark.” Tragically, that warning materialized when he first felt the shark’s teeth sink into his hand.
In a startling moment, the Great White tore a chunk of flesh from his hand, prompting him to shout in pain. “I remember shouting ‘ow’ because it hurt, and then I remember a bit of a wrestle with it,” Murra recalled. Many on the support vessel initially assumed he was merely reacting to a jellyfish sting.
However, the nightmare escalated as the shark returned, clamping down on his foot. “Then it was like a bit of a tug and the only thing I could think of was to kick it with my other foot,” Murra explained. As the support crew illuminated the water, he was horrified to see the predator circling back, seemingly ready for another attack.
“The shark was coming back for its dessert,” he stated, emphasizing the terrifying reality of the situation. With adrenaline pumping, Murra managed to fend off the creature and scramble back onto the boat, but the shark continued to circle, prompting urgent calls from the crew to evacuate him.
Murra described the chaotic moment, stating, “At that point one of the crew said ‘come in number seven, out you get’ and I had to climb up the ladder.” After the frightening encounter, he suffered severe lacerations and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
He said, “I was treated on board the support boat and then taken by the LA fire department to shore and transferred to hospital. Swim abandoned. Stitches and glue.” His family was stunned when coach Tim Denyer informed them of the incident, assuring them that Murra was alright.
Despite the traumatic experience, Murra remains passionate about open water swimming, stating, “I think the odds of it happening are very small. I wouldn’t want to put anybody off swimming in the sea.” He acknowledged that people often ask him about the encounter due to their natural fears about deep water.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with open water swimming, leaving many to wonder about safety measures during such events. As authorities continue to monitor the waters for shark activity, Murra’s resolve to continue swimming shines through, inspiring others to remain vigilant yet undeterred.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and the implications for safety in open water swimming challenges.
