Underworld Fraternity: The Secret Society You Join Following a Shark Encounter
In Far North Queensland, Australia, Anika Craney's life took an unexpected turn when she was bitten by a shark while free-diving in the Great Barrier Reef. The attack resulted in deep and superficial peroneal nerve damage, three tendons severed, a dented tibia bone, and a tooth shattered in her bone [1].
Thankfully, an off-duty medic fashioned a tourniquet, saving Craney's life and limb [1]. After the ordeal, Craney turned to the Bite Club Facebook page for support, introducing herself and detailing her injuries [2].
Bite Club is a unique support network and community specifically created for shark attack survivors, their families, and others affected by shark encounters. Founded by shark attack survivor Dave Pearson in 2013, the group has grown to include over 500 members worldwide [1][2].
Pearson, who was bitten by a shark in 2011, resulting in his left arm being severely injured [1], realized the importance of sharing experiences and connecting with others who had gone through similar trauma. Bite Club’s core purpose is to assist those affected by shark attacks in returning to a "new normal" life by providing emotional support, sharing information about recovery, and fostering inspirational stories of survival [1].
Members often help each other with psychological challenges such as nightmares, fear of the ocean, and trauma, acting similarly to sponsors in addiction recovery groups by connecting people and offering companionship, including accompanying each other back into the water [2].
Bite Club has also become a fraternity of sorts — a supportive network not just for survivors but also for family members of those who have died in shark attacks, providing a place to share grief and gain peace through shared understanding [2][3].
Pearson connects Bite Club members who he thinks will benefit from speaking with each other, acting as a sponsor in a recovery group [2]. Craney, then 29, found solace in this community, despite experiencing nerve pain described as feeling like electrocution or red ants biting her skin [2].
However, the trauma of the attack also affected Craney's professional life. She began hearing phantom cries for help or people yelling, "Shark!" at work, which forced her to give up her job as a skipper for a boat charter company [2].
Despite these challenges, Craney expressed her determination not to let the experience affect her lifelong bond with the ocean. A little over a year after the attack, while surfing with Pearson and his partner, Debbie Minett, Craney had a hallucination of a shark approaching her [1].
Yet, Craney's spirit remained undeterred. Within a couple of months after the attack, she returned to swimming and diving [2]. Bite Club, named as a joke during a late-night conversation over beers and wine [3], has proven to be a beacon of hope and resilience for those who have experienced the trauma of a shark attack.
[1] The Guardian
[2] ABC News
[3] CNN
