While most fishing excursions are thought to be exercises in relaxation and serenity, they nonetheless involve man’s intrusion into nature where the unexpected can occur. A 41-year-old New Zealand man, James Brown, captured such incident on a head-mounted GoPro camera. He unwittingly caught a 13-foot shark that dragged his tiny kayak through the water for almost half a kilometer before it bit through the line and freed itself.
By the fisherman’s estimation, the bronze whaler shark weighed over 600 pounds, meaning that no amount of resistance from the fisherman or his boat would temper the shark’s efforts to free itself of the line.
Brown said of the harrowing and terrifying experience:
"I had a line down directly beside me and I hooked a small snapper. When I started winding it up, it suddenly gained a couple of hundred kilos. It just gained weight really, really quickly, until the rod was bent right over and started towing me around the sea. I had it on for close to 15 minutes, before it woke up and got frisky. It dragged me around for about half a kilometer, before I think it realised it was attached to a fisherman and it started leaping out of the water. It surfaced about 50 or 60 metres away.
According to MSN, Brown had set out hoping to catch some small fish with a light rod. He also recounts that he was situated in water only about 13 feet deep when the shark bit.
His first thought after the shark swam off free of the line? “Hopefully it doesn't come back and get too angry.”
He may not have come home with a 13-foot shark, but thanks to his mounted camera, he managed to escape the encounter with a truly amazing video and story.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.