06/15/2026
In 1985, Shirley Ann Durdin, a 33-year-old mother of four, was snorkeling for scallops with her husband and friends in Peake Bay when she was attacked by a massive great white shark, estimated to be around 20 feet (6 meters) long.
Witnesses reported that the shark struck with a single devastating bite, severing her body in half. Her husband and others watched helplessly from a nearby boat as the attack occurred. The shark then disappeared, and despite a search of the area, only partial remains were recovered.
The attack is remembered as one of the most horrific and powerful great white shark attacks ever documented, illustrating the immense size and force that large sharks can possess.