This pearl diver had a miraculous escape. The shark grabbed the diver by his head, and was forced to let go when the victim gouged at the shark's eyes. The incident took place in Torres Strait, between New Guinea and Australia.

The 38 year old victim of the 1937 attack, Iona Asai, recounted his experience: "First time I went down I found one pearl shell and put it on the deck. Then I went down again the second time and found another pearl shell. The third time I dive and walked on the bottom. I was behind a little high place, the shark was on the other side. I never saw him and he never saw me. I saw a stone like a pearl shell on the north side, and when I turned I saw the shark six feet away from me. He opened his mouth, already I have no chance of escape from him. Then he came and bite me on the head. He felt it was too strong to swallow and put his teeth around my neck. Then he bite me and I felt his teeth go into my flesh. I put my hands around his head and squeeze his eyes until he let me go, and I make for the boat. The captain pulled me into the boat and I faint. They get some medicines from a school teacher."

462 stitches, to cover up an attack that exposed his stomach, lungs and rib cage; the flesh on his arm was stripped to the bone and his ribs were crushed - one of them puncturing his lung.