PLYMOUTH – Two women kayaking off the coast of Plymouth and taking photos of seals were surprised by a great white shark yesterday afternoon.
The shark took a bite out of one of the kayaks and the bite marks were analyzed by state shark experts to confirm that it was a great white shark.
The women, Ida Parker and Kristin Orr, were shaken up but unharmed.
They said they were about 150 miles off shore when the shark came up beneath and tried to take a bite of one kayak, spilling both of them into the water.
The shark swam away and the Plymouth Harbormaster rescued the women after a bystander called 911.
While the young women were being rescued by the Harbor Master and Coast Guard, a helicopter from the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing flew over the Plymouth coastline in the area off Manomet where the young women were kayaking.
The air crew observed the Harbor Master’s rescue operations.
Today the Coast Guard Air Wing is flying over the area with a scientist for State Marine Fisheries to allow the Fisheries official to monitor for sharks.