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Brave pit bull fights off 6-foot shark to save owner after predator bites man’s leg on California beach

The incident happened when James White accidentally caught a Sevengill while fishing on the shore of Bodega Bay in Sonoma County
PUBLISHED AUG 20, 2019

A fisherman was recently saved by his brave pit bull from a shark attack. The dog reportedly jumped into action after hearing his owner's cries for help as a six-foot shark bit his ankle.

The incident happened when James White accidentally caught a Sevengill while fishing on the shore of Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, California, the Daily Mail reported.

The monster fish apparently drove its teeth into his ankle and punctured an artery when White tried to detach the hook from its mouth.

At the time, White's one-year-old pup Darby, who was in his car, somehow managed to escape the vehicle upon hearing his owner's cries for help as he struggled with the violent beast.

James White accidentally caught a six-foot Sevengill while fishing on the shore of Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, California. (NBC Bay Area)

"He (Darby) has been a part of the family from day one. Just now a little more," White told NBC Bay Area.

"If it wasn’t for him I would have been a lot worse."

According to White, he had accidentally hooked himself on to the 6-foot-long Sevengill shark and took ten minutes to reel the beast to shore.

The fish is widely considered dangerous to humans if provoked.

When he tried to unhook the massive predator, it attacked him and sank its razor-sharp teeth into his ankle.

"Immediately there was blood everywhere, the first bite punctured an artery," White said. "The pressure was intense."

White screamed in pain and called for help, hoping someone nearby would come to his aid. 

But when there was no one present to help him out, Darby came to his owner's rescue.

When he tried to unhook the massive predator, it attacked him and sank its razor-sharp teeth into his ankle. (NBC Bay Area)

When the pit bull terrier reached White, he immediately bit the shark's gills -- only to make the predator chomp down harder on the fisherman's leg. 

Quickly realizing the situation, the pup subsequently went for the shark's tail and was successfully able to drag it away from his master.

People were previously reluctant to believe his story, White said. However, after he showed them photographs of the horrifying bite wound, they came around.

Following the attack, White said he threw the shark back into the water. He told NBC that his love for Darby only grew stronger after the incident.

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