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The real-life \u2018Shark Week\u2019 that inspired Peter Benchley's novel Jaws kicked off with the shocking mauling of 23 year-old Charles Vansant off the coast of Beach Haven on 1st July, 1916.\xa0\nAt first, the public refused to believe that a shark could be responsible.But five days later, another attack occurred at Spring Lake, claiming the life of Swissman Charles Bruder, whose legs were completely severed.\xa0\nThe spate of shark attacks that followed this became known as \u201812 Days of Terror\u2019, capturing national attention, and leading President Woodrow Wilson to authorise federal aid to \u2018drive away\u2019 the sharks from New Jersey.\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly unpick the early hypotheses, from killer whales to sea turtles; explain why so many beachgoers couldn\u2019t swim; and consider how one shark ended up in the hands of a Barnum & Bailey lion tamer\u2026\xa0\nCONTENT WARNING: gore, description of death by shark attack\n\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018The Real-Life 'Jaws' That Terrorized the Jersey Shore\u2019 (HISTORY, ): https://www.history.com/news/the-real-life-jaws-that-terrorized-the-jersey-shore\n\u2022 \u2018Spielberg tells of guilt over harm hit film Jaws may have done to sharks\u2019 (The Guardian, 2022): https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/dec/18/steven-spielberg-tells-of-guilt-jaws-film-sharks\n\u2022\xa0\u2019SHARK ATTACK Caught on Camera!\u2019 (Discovery, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDTXqg_vsMQ\n\n\nLove the show? Support us!\xa0\nJoin\xa0 \U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\U0001f334to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode each SUNDAY\u2026\xa0\n\n\u2026 Plus, get weekly bonus bits, and unlock over 100 bits of extra content.\xa0\nJoin now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show \u2764\ufe0f\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices