A dramatic rescue unfolded on an Oregon beach when Colleen Dunn, while walking her dogs, discovered a small shark in distress. The salmon shark was struggling in a low tide area, vulnerable and at risk of suffocation.
Shark Rescue on Oregon Coast
On October 2025, Dunn encountered the three-foot shark as she took her usual walk near Manzanita, Oregon. Initially, she mistook the shark for a baby great white, raising immediate concerns for her safety.
Quick Thinking in a Risky Situation
With no guidance from her husband, who was at work in Nehalem Bay State Park, Dunn decided to act. Despite her nerves, she carefully grabbed the shark by the tail and carried it to deeper waters. She documented the rescue on her phone, capturing the moment when the shark began to swim freely again.
- Event Date: October 2025
- Location: Oregon beach near Portland
- Shark Type: Salmon shark (approximately 3 feet long)
After the rescue, Dunn shared her experience on local social media, but no further sightings of the shark were reported. Her connection to the ocean and its wildlife stems from her previous life in Hawaii, where she developed a deep appreciation for marine environments.
Another Shark Incident
In a contrasting incident, a deceased four-foot female blue shark was found on another Oregon beach around the same time. According to the Seaside Aquarium, the shark was in good condition but had been washed ashore too long for a detailed examination.
- Shark Type: Blue shark
- Length: 4 feet
- Status: Maintained in good condition despite being deceased
The aquarium noted that identifying the cause of death in such cases is challenging, especially when the marine animals have been dead for an extended period. This underscores the complexities involved in the study of marine life and conservation efforts.
Both incidents highlight the unique interactions humans can have with ocean wildlife, sometimes resulting in heroic actions and, at other times, unfortunate discoveries.
