Original subtitles

Wade: I'M JEREMY WADE,

ANGLING EXPLORER AND BIOLOGIST.

FISHING...

AH! IS MY PASSION.

ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CATCHES

OF MY LIFE.

TIME AND AGAIN,

THIS PASSION HAS HELPED ME SOLVE FRESHWATER MYSTERIES.

SOME OF MY MOST DANGEROUS INVESTIGATIONS

HAVE UNFOLDED IN AUSTRALIA...

WHERE MURKY RIVERS HIDE BIZARRE

AND DEADLY BEASTS FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

THAT IS HUGE!

BUT THIS TIME, I'M GOING BEYOND THE RIVERS,

VENTURING INTO THE OCEAN

THAT LIES OFF THIS VAST CONTINENT'S NORTHERN COAST.

RIGHT BENEATH ME IS SOME OF THE WILDEST COASTLINE

ANYWHERE ON EARTH.

IT'S IN THESE WATERS

WHERE MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM ANIMAL ATTACKS

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

THIS PLACE IS KNOWN AS THE DEADLIEST SEA

ON THE PLANET, AND I'M HERE TO FIND OUT WHY.

IT'S NOT A MATTER IF YOU COULD DIE.

YOU WILL DIE.

Man: WHOA!

IF YOU THOUGHT THE RIVERS WERE BAD,

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET.

Man: OH!

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

OVER THE YEARS, I'VE COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF REPORTS

OF MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES AND ATTACKS

FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT THERE'S ONE FILE

THAT'S THICKER THAN ALL THE OTHERS.

ALL THE REPORTS COME FROM THE SAME PLACE --

THE SEAS AROUND NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.

TAKE THE CASE SOME YEARS AGO

OF FIVE ABORIGINAL ELDERS

AND THE PILOTS OF THE SMALL PLANE

THEY WERE FLYING IN.

THEY FOUND THEMSELVES ALONE

IN THE WATER IN SIGHT OF LAND

AFTER THEIR PLANE DEVELOPED ENGINE PROBLEMS

AND WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN THE SEA.

ALL THAT WAS EVER FOUND OF THEM WAS ONE SEVERED LEG.

WHAT EXACTLY IS IN THESE WATERS

THAT CAN TEAR APART SIX FIT, CAPABLE MEN?

I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIND OUT.

I'M STARTING MY INVESTIGATION IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

IN THE SAME WATERS

WHERE THE MEN WERE REPORTED TO HAVE DISAPPEARED.

THERE ARE PREDATORS HERE THAT SIMPLY CAN'T BE IGNORED.

BEACHES ALONG A STRETCH OF COAST

HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE YESTERDAY

BECAUSE OF A SHARK ATTACK.

AUSTRALIA HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER

OF FATAL SHARK ATTACKS IN THE WORLD.

A FATHER OF TWO HAS DIED AFTER BEING SAVAGED BY A SHARK.

BUT OUT OF THE 170 SHARK SPECIES

KNOWN TO PATROL THESE WATERS,

ONLY THREE HAVE THE RAP SHEET FOR FATAL ATTACKS ON HUMANS.

THE GREAT WHITE DOESN'T VENTURE THIS FAR NORTH.

AND EXPERIENCE TELLS ME

THAT BULL SHARKS ARE MOSTLY FOUND CLOSE TO THE COAST

AND NEAR RIVER MOUTHS.

SO I'M STARTING MY INVESTIGATION

WITH THE APEX PREDATOR IN THESE WATERS -- THE TIGER SHARK.

I'M JOINING SHARK BIOLOGIST ADAM BARNETT.

JEREMY. NICE TO MEET YOU.

I KNOW THERE ARE DOCUMENTED

ATTACKS ON HUMANS BY TIGER SHARKS.

SO WHAT TRIGGERS THESE ATTACKS?

AND WOULD A GROUP OF MEN IN THE WATER BE LIKELY TARGETS?

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ADAM IS LEARNING FROM HIS RESEARCH.

WE'RE NOT JUST TAGGING THEM ANYMORE.

BUT WE'RE ALSO TAKING THE BLOOD, TAKING THE TISSUE SAMPLES.

THE BLOOD AND THE TISSUE WILL GIVE US AN IDEA

OF WHAT THEY'VE BEEN EATING.

IF DIFFERENT SHARKS ARE EATING DIFFERENT THINGS

OR IT'S A VERY GENERALIZED DIET,

AND WHAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY EXPECT FROM A TIGER SHARK.

BY UNDERSTANDING WHAT TIGER SHARKS ARE EATING,

I WANT TO BUILD A BIGGER PICTURE

OF WHAT THEY SEE AS PREY AND WHETHER THAT INCLUDES US.

WELL, THE BAITS ARE OUT.

AT THE MOMENT, THEY LOOK UNTOUCHED.

YOU'VE GOT A RED BUOY

AND ALSO THE SMALLER WHITE BUOY.

WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR IS THE WHITE BUOY TO DISAPPEAR.

BUT ALL QUIET AT THE MOMENT.

THEN WE GET A SIGN THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE.

THAT'S DOING SOMETHING, ISN'T IT?

WHAT DO YOU RECKON?

OH, YEP! YEAH, THERE IT GOES.

IT'S GOING UNDER.

TIGER ON! TIGER ON!

AS WE APPROACH THE BUOY,

I CAN SEE AN OMINOUS SHAPE BENEATH THE SURFACE.

THIS IS BIG.

THIS IS TIGER SHARK, AND THIS IS A BIG ONE.

STILL GOT A BIT OF KICK IN HER.

THIS SHARK HAS A LOT OF ENERGY LEFT.

AND I STRUGGLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF IT.

IT'S 10-FOOT-PLUS.

WE'RE TALKING 650, 700 POUNDS.

THIS IS A BIG ANIMAL. THIS IS WHAT'S IN THESE WATERS.

LET'S TRY TO TURN IT OVER.

WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE MOMENT IS

ADAM'S TAKING A BIT OF TISSUE.

THAT INVOLVES SOME RATHER DELICATE SURGERY

WITH A VERY SHARP SCALPEL.

AND YOU'VE GOT AN ANIMAL THAT COULD START THRASHING

AT ANY MOMENT.

SO ADAM'S TAKING A BLOOD SAMPLE FROM IT NOW.

FROM THESE SAMPLES, ADAM

WILL GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE SHARK EATS.

IT'S ROLLING. IT'S ROLLING.

THE SHARK IS WINDING ITSELF AROUND THE LEADER WIRE,

DRAGGING OUR SIDE OF THE BOAT DOWN.

THEN IT SINKS ITS TEETH INTO OUR AIR-FILLED BOAT.

[ AIR HISSES ]

-THAT'S NOT HOLDING IT! -IT'S GOT A HOLD -- [BLEEP]!

WELL, THE SHARK HAS PUNCTURED THE BOAT.

IT'S ALSO WRAPPED IN THE LEADER.

WITH THE BOAT TAKING IN WATER,

WE NEED TO UNWRAP THE SHARK FROM THE LEADER AND FAST.

IT'S GOT TO COME OVER. THAT'S IT.

OKAY, RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO ABANDON

ANY ATTEMPT TO GET ANY DATA FROM THIS.

WE GOT THE BOAT GOING DOWN.

WE CUT THE LEADER

AND RELEASE THE SHARK.

WE HAVE A HOLE IN THE BOAT, AND THE AIR HAS COME OUT

AND WATER IS GOING IN.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE MOTHER SHIP, WHICH IS

BECOMING INCREASINGLY DISTANT.

SO PRIORITY IS US GETTING OUT OF HERE.

WE LIMP BACK TO HE MOTHER SHIP.

I STILL CAN'T GET OVER THE SIGHT

OF SUCH A HUGE PREDATOR SO CLOSE.

NOW, MORE THAN EVER,

I WONDER IF WE HUMANS ARE ON THE SHARK'S MENU.

DO TIGER SHARKS HAVE PREFERENCES

IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY FEED ON THERE?

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT HAVE EVOLVED

TO HUNT CERTAIN THINGS.

LIKE, TURTLES SEEM VERY, VERY POPULAR IN THEIR DIET.

IF YOU HAD A SCENARIO OF A PERSON

OR PEOPLE IN THE WATER,

MIGHT THEY CONSIDER THAT AS A FOOD ITEM?

ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE, BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE OF DIVING WITH 'EM,

THEY'RE VERY SHY ANIMALS.

WE'VE PUT BAIT IN THE WATER TO ACTUALLY BRING 'EM IN,

AND THEY'LL COME IN.

AND THEN WE'LL GET IN THE WATER, AND THEY'LL OFTEN LEAVE.

AND THEIR HEADS ARE FULL OF ALL THESE SENSORS.

SO IF THEY GO TO FEED ON SOMETHING,

TO ATTACK IT, THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

THAT THEY DON'T GET DAMAGED, AS WELL.

SO HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE TIMES

WHEN TIGER SHARKS HAVE ATTACKED PEOPLE?

I THINK THERE'S A CLUE IN WHAT ADAM'S BLOOD SAMPLING

IS TURNING UP.

HE HAS SHOWN THAT HERE, TURTLES ARE A BIG PART

OF THE TIGER SHARK'S DIET.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT ALMOST ALL ATTACKS ON PEOPLE

OCCUR 300 FEET OR LESS FROM THE SHORE,

WHERE SURFERS ARE USUALLY FOUND,

COULD IT BE THAT TIGER SHARKS ARE MISTAKING THE OUTLINE

OF A SURFBOARD FOR THEIR FAVORITE FOOD?

I NEED TO START PIECING THINGS TOGETHER.

WE'LL NEVER KNOW FOR SURE

WHETHER TIGER SHARKS ATTACKED THE PLANE CRASH VICTIMS.

TIGERS ARE SOLITARY HUNTERS.

SO A LONE SHARK MIGHT'VE BITTEN ONE OF THESE MEN.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY

THAT IT COULD'VE TAKEN THEM ALL OUT.

I GO BACK TO THE CASE FILE FOR CLUES

AND FIND A SHOCKING STORY

WITH ECHOES OF THE CASE OF THE MISSING MEN.

IN THIS NEW MYSTERY, A MAN WAS LOST IN THE OPEN OCEAN

AND A SEVERED BODY PART WAS THE ONLY EVIDENCE FOUND.

BUT WHAT REALLY GETS MY ATTENTION

IS WHERE THAT EVIDENCE WAS FOUND.

A WORKER PROCESSING FISH IN A QUEENSLAND FACTORY

OPENED UP A LARGER GROUPER

AND MADE A GRUESOME DISCOVERY.

WHEN HE SLICED OPEN ITS STOMACH,

WHAT HE FOUND INSIDE WAS A HUMAN HEAD.

I'M INVESTIGATING THE CASE OF A GROUP OF MEN

WHO DISAPPEARED IN THE SEAS AROUND NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.

THE ONLY EVIDENCE EVER FOUND WAS A SEVERED LEG.

NOW I'VE FOUND ANOTHER CASE WITH STRIKING SIMILARITIES.

BUT THIS TIME, THE EVIDENCE IS A MAN'S HEAD.

AND IT WAS FOUND INSIDE THE BELLY

OF A SPECIES OF GROUPER.

SO SHARKS AREN'T THE ONLY ANIMALS HERE

CAPABLE OF SWALLOWING PIECES OF HUMANS.

I'VE COME TO A REMOTE AND UNINHABITED GROUP

OF ISLANDS 60 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOWNSHIP.

THIS IS A SCORCHED AND ARID PLACE.

THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE THIS TIME OF YEAR IS 110.

I'M HERE TO TRACK DOWN THE QUEENSLAND GROUPER

TO SEE FOR MYSELF WHAT THIS ANIMAL IS CAPABLE OF.

BUT AS WE'RE HEADING TO THE FISHING GROUNDS,

WE ENCOUNTER A SITUATION THAT STOPS US IN OUR TRACKS.

OUR CAMERAMAN STARTS RECORDING

WHEN WE STUMBLE ON AN INCREDIBLE SCENE --

A FISHERMAN SEPARATED FROM HIS BOAT,

SHOUTING FOR OUR HELP.

THE CREW FOCUSES ON GETTING HIM REHYDRATED

BUT KEEPS ROLLING AS THE STORY UNFOLDS.

WE JUST CAME AROUND THE COAST. THIS IS AN UNINHABITED ISLAND.

AND WE FIRST OF ALL SAW A COOLER ON THE ROCKS.

AND THEN ONE OF US SPOTTED -- SAID, "THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE.

THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE."

HE IMMEDIATELY CAME DOWN TO THE WATER,

AND HE'S YELLING OUT, YOU KNOW, "GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK!

GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK!"

PRETTY DESPERATE, ACTUALLY GOT RIGHT IN WATER TO COME OUT

AND MEET US.

WE'LL FIND OUT VERY SOON WHAT'S HAPPENED.

WE SAW A COOL BOX ON THE ROCK, AND THEN...

HMM.

HE WAS SEPARATED FROM HIS BOAT TWO DAYS AGO

AND BECAME DISORIENTED.

DESPITE EFFORTS TO FIND HIS VESSEL,

HE WAS BEATEN BACK BY THE FEROCITY OF THE SUN.

AND WITH EVERY HOUR THAT PASSED,

HIS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL DIMINISHED.

ONE MORE DAY ON THE BEACH, AND HE WOULD'VE DIED.

OUT HERE IN THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH SUMMER,

STRANDED WITHOUT WATER OR SHELTER,

YOUR SURVIVAL IS LIMITED TO TWO,

MAYBE THREE DAYS.

WE MAKE SURE THAT HE'S WELL HYDRATED

AND SEND HIM FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION.

THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME.

IN ALL MY TRAVELS TO REMOTE PLACES,

I FOUND SOME OF THE RAREST FISH ON THE PLANET,

BUT I'VE NEVER RESCUED SOMEONE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND.

IT'S A VIVID REMINDER

OF HOW EASILY LIFE CAN SOMETIMES BE SNUFFED OUT.

I CONTINUE TO THE FISHING GROUNDS

TO RESUME MY HUNT

FOR A GIANT QUEENSLAND GROUPER.

I NEED TO GET A LINE IN THE WATER

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ITS BEHAVIOR AND HUNTING STRATEGY.

FISHING FOR SOMETHING THIS BIG MEANS

I HAVE TO PLACE PROTECTIVE TAPE

ON MY THUMB AND WEAR A HARNESS.

ANYTHING CAPABLE OF SWALLOWING A HUMAN HEAD

IS GOING TO BE HUGE.

I NORMALLY DON'T LIKE TO USE LIVE BAIT,

BUT GROUPERS OFTEN BITE FISH OFF ANGLERS' LINES

AS THEY'RE BEING REELED IN, MUCH TO THE ANGLER'S ANNOYANCE.

SO I'M HOPING THAT BY MIMICKING THIS SCENARIO,

I MIGHT GET A STRIKE.

AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE I GET MY FIRST.

THAT'S A HIT. THAT'S A HIT.

THAT'S A HIT. I'M GOING TO GO DOWN -- AND NOW!

THAT'S HOOKED.

THIS FEELS A BIT DIFFERENT. OH, MY GOODNESS.

THIS FISH FEELS ENORMOUS.

IT'S GOING DOWN. IT'S GOING DOWN.

IT'S GOING DOWN.

AND THE BANDAGE ON MY THUMB IS USELESS.

SO MUCH FOR THAT PLASTER. THE WHOLE THING JUST POPPED OFF.

[ BLEEP ] IT'S MELTING MY [BLEEP] THUMB!

[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]

WITHOUT THE PROTECTIVE TAPE,

THE FAST-SPINNING REEL STRIPS OFF MY SKIN.

AND THE FISH IS GONE.

[ BLEEP ]

[ BLEEP ] OFF!

I PUT PLASTER ON MY THUMB, AND IT COMES OFF!

HOW ONE LITTLE THING CAN LET YOU DOWN.

I'M USING MY THUMB AS A BRAKE.

AND THE PLASTER JUST COMES OFF.

THAT'S WHAT IT DOES -- RIPS MY THUMB,

AND WE LOSE THE [BLEEP] FISH.

I'M RAPIDLY FINDING OUT THAT IN THIS HEAT,

IT'S ALSO EASY TO LOSE YOUR HEAD.

I NOW KNOW THERE ARE BIG FISH DOWN THERE,

BUT ANY ELEMENT OF SURPRISE I MIGHT'VE HAD IS GONE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A THIEF TRIGGERING THE ALARM SYSTEM.

I DECIDE TO CHANGE UP MY TACTICS.

IT'S ACTUALLY GONE VERY QUIET.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INTEREST IN --

WELL, NO INTEREST IN THE BAIT. AND I'M JUST THINKING,

PARTICULARLY IN THIS WATER CLARITY,

THERE HAVE TO BE FISH DOWN THERE THAT ARE AWARE OF IT.

WHAT I MIGHT DO, INSTEAD OF HAVING THE BAIT JUST

HANGING AROUND IN THE TARGET ZONE,

I MIGHT JUST CRANK IT A FEW FEET UP, JUST TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION

OF SOMETHING TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE DANGER ZONE.

THAT COULD TRIGGER SOMETHING.

OH! HERE WE GO. THERE'S SOMETHING ON THERE.

THERE'S A MASSIVE HIT ON MY BAIT.

I CAN HEAR THE LINE STRAINING UNDER THE TENSION.

OH, THAT'S A BAD SOUND.

THAT'S GONNA DESTROY THE ANCHOR WEIGHT.

IT'S A BIG FISH.

IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT IN, I URGENTLY NEED

TO STOP THE LINE FOULING THE ANCHOR CHAIN.

BUT THIS MANEUVER RISKS GIVING THE FISH

THE CHANCE TO REACH THE ROCKY BOTTOM.

I WONDER IF WE CAN EVEN GET THE ANCHOR UP

AND GO AFTER IT.

THIS IS A VERY BIG FISH, VERY BIG FISH.

WE NEED TO WORK THE FISH AWAY FROM THE SUBMERGED CLIFFS

AND SHARP ROCKS AROUND THE ISLAND,

WHICH COULD CUT THE LINE.

AND IF YOU SHOUT OUT THE DEPTH AS WELL, WE'LL BE GREAT.

-55 FEET. -GREAT. THANK YOU.

NOW WE HAVE IT IN MORE OPEN WATER,

WE STAND A CHANCE OF LANDING IT.

THEN IT MAKES A POWERFUL SURGE FOR THE BOTTOM.

HE'S GOING AGAIN. IT'S GOING AGAIN.

I CAN'T BELIEVE -- YOU FEEL YOU'RE GETTING

THE UPPER HAND...

OH, STILL HAVEN'T EVEN GLIMPSED IT.

HEART IN MOUTH. THE FISH IS TIRING.

IT'S COMING IN.

SO, LOOK, THIS IS WHEN IT'S TIME TO BE CAREFUL.

WE'RE WELL CLEAR OF THE ISLAND.

WE SHOULD BE WELL CLEAR OF STRUCTURE.

AND IT'S COMING UP AGAIN. I'M GONNA SEE IT ANY MOMENT.

I CAN SEE IT NOW. I CAN SEE IT NOW.

THERE IT IS.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES.

IN THIS CASE, THE GAFF HOOK

IS NECESSARY TO HOLD IT SECURELY.

OTHERWISE, WE COULD STILL LOSE IT.

THIS IS WAY TOO BIG TO BRING ONBOARD.

UM, I WANT TO HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.

AND, UH, THERE'S A ROCK LEDGE.

WE'RE GONNA TRY AND GET IT ON THERE.

HERE'S A BIT BETTER.

HE'S ACTUALLY CLAMPING DOWN SLIGHTLY.

I'M GONNA -- AAH!

[ BLEEP ] IT'S BITE -- THAT'S BITING MY HAND!

I'M INVESTIGATING THE DISAPPEARANCE

OF A GROUP OF MEN IN THE WATERS

OFF AUSTRALIA'S WILD NORTH COAST.

THE ONLY EVIDENCE RECOVERED WAS ONE SEVERED LEG.

I'VE COME TO A REMOTE ISLAND CHAIN

TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S A LINK

BETWEEN THAT CASE AND ANOTHER ONE

THAT BEARS DISTURBING SIMILARITIES,

WHERE THE SEVERED HEAD OF A MAN WAS FOUND

INSIDE THE BELLY OF A SPECIES OF GROUPER.

AND THE FISH I'VE JUST CAUGHT

IS EASILY CAPABLE OF SWALLOWING A HUMAN HEAD.

IT'S ACTUALLY CLAMPING DOWN SLIGHTLY.

I'M GONNA -- AAH!

IT'S BITE -- THAT'S BITING MY HAND!

AND IT HURTS. IT HURTS.

OH, NO. IT'S ON A HOOK, [BLEEP].

I'M ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON A HOOK. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS.

SORRY. I'M ACTUALLY ATTACHED BY A HOOK

TO THIS FISH, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD SCENARIO.

THERE'S A HOOK. JUST CUT IT THERE,

WHERE MY FINGER IS. YES.

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. I'M JUST GONNA SEE

IF I CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF THIS OUT OF THE WATER.

I DON'T WANT TO LIFT IT ALL OUT.

IF I CAN LIFT IT MAYBE A TINY BIT -- AH!

THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS I CAN LIFT OUT OF THE WATER.

UGH!

THIS GROUPER IS COMFORTABLY 6 FEET LONG,

AND I ESTIMATE CLOSE TO 300 POUNDS.

THERE IS THE MOUTH.

UM, I THINK I COULD PROBABLY GET MY HEAD IN THERE

IF I WAS SO INCLINED.

UH, BUT I'M NOT SO INCLINED.

THAT IS THE LAST THING THAT A LOT OF SMALL FISH

AND NOT-SO-SMALL FISH SEE.

WHETHER THIS WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE A LIVING PERSON

IN THE WATER, I DON'T THINK SO.

THAT'S NOT THEIR BEHAVIOR.

THEY LURK DOWN PRETTY DEEP, NORMALLY.

BUT THEY'RE GOING FOR FISH.

BUT IF THERE WAS A CORPSE ON THE BOTTOM,

THIS COULD ABSOLUTELY SEIZE THE HEAD

AND DISMEMBER IT.

NOW, THERE'S SOMEBODY'S HOOK HERE I'M JUST GONNA TAKE OUT.

I REMOVE SEVERAL HOOKS AND LINE FROM OLD BATTLES.

FOR MANY OTHER ANGLERS,

THIS WAS THE FISH THAT GOT AWAY.

INCREDIBLE AS IT IS TO SEE THIS FISH UP CLOSE,

I CAN'T KEEP IT AT THE SURFACE FOR LONG.

ITS HOME IS THE DEEP.

THIS IS A POWERFUL AND INTIMIDATING FISH,

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE ACTIVE KILLER

THAT WOULD HAVE THE INSTINCT

TO ATTACK A HUMAN ON THE SURFACE.

GROUPERS, LIKE THE ONE I'VE JUST CAUGHT,

WAIT FOR THEIR PREY NEAR THE SEAFLOOR,

LURKING IN CAVES AND CREVICES,

READY TO AMBUSH USING THE SUCTION OF THAT HUGE MOUTH.

THE SERIES OF EVENTS THAT LED TO THE MAN'S HEAD

BEING FOUND INSIDE ONE OF THESE FISH

CAN ONLY BE SPECULATED ON.

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE TO IMAGINE A SHARK ATTACK

SENDING BODY PARTS SINKING TO THE DEPTHS

TO BE SCAVENGED BY ONE OF THESE GIANTS OF THE DEEP.

A CASE OF RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME

FROM THE FISH'S POINT OF VIEW,

AND AN EASY MEAL.

THE GROUPER ENSURING

THAT, NORMALLY, NO IS EVIDENCE IS FOUND.

WHAT DOES THIS TELL ME ABOUT THE MISSING MEN?

WE STILL NEED TO ESTABLISH EXACTLY

WHAT CAUSED THEM TO DISAPPEAR.

BUT ONE THING THE WATER OFF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

ISN'T SHORT OF IS SUSPECTS.

I GO BACK TO THE ONLY PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE --

A SEVERED LEG WASHED UP ON A REMOTE, UNINHABITED ISLAND

NOT FAR FROM WHERE THE MEN DITCHED INTO THE SEA.

I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT BITE MARKS CAN BE CLUES.

THE FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHS DIDN'T SHOW

THE CLASSIC CURVED SIGNATURE

OF A SHARK BITE.

SO WHAT DID THIS?

I KNOW OF ONLY ONE OTHER PREDATOR

IN THIS REGION CAPABLE OF DISMEMBERING HUMAN BODIES.

I'M MEETING BIOLOGIST DR. ADAM BRITTON,

WHO HAS SPENT HIS LIFE RESEARCHING

SALTWATER CROCODILES,

THE LARGEST AND MOST AGGRESSIVE REPTILE ON EARTH.

HE'S INVITED ME TO JOIN A NIGHT HUNT

SO I CAN GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THIS REPTILE'S WEAPONRY...

AND FIND OUT IF THE PLANE CRASH SURVIVORS

COULD'VE FALLEN VICTIM TO A CROCODILE AT SEA.

DO THEY EVER GO OUT INTO MORE OPEN OCEAN?

SALTIES HAVE GOT THE ABILITY TO TOLERATE SALINITY

A LOT BETTER THAN A LOT OF OTHER CROCODILE SPECIES.

SO THAT GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE

DOWN TO THE RIVER ESTUARY AND EVEN AROUND THE COASTLINE.

AND IN EFFECT, THE OCEAN FOR THEM,

OR THE COASTLINE, IN PARTICULAR, IT'S LIKE A HIGHWAY.

THEY'LL USE IT TO GET FROM ONE RIVER SYSTEM

TO THE NEXT RIVER SYSTEM.

SO IF THEY ENCOUNTER SOMEONE ON THE BEACH, FOR EXAMPLE,

THEY MIGHT TRY AN ATTACK ON THAT PERSON.

THEY'RE SO ADAPTABLE.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THEM SO DANGEROUS.

I NEED TO SEE A SALTWATER CROCODILE FOR MYSELF.

WE HEAD TO THE ADELAIDE RIVER,

A HUGE ESTUARINE SYSTEM.

WE POSITION OURSELVES ONLY A FEW MILES

FROM THE OCEAN, WHERE ADAM KNOWS

THERE'LL BE CONCENTRATED NUMBERS OF CROCODILES.

I QUICKLY GET A SENSE OF THE SIZE OF THE POPULATION

HERE.

I SEE DOZENS OF CROCODILES SLIP INTO THE WATER

AS WE MOVE PAST.

ADAM HAS LEARNED THAT THE BEST WAY

TO GET CLOSE TO THEM IS UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS.

WELL, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO

IS WE'RE GONNA USE THE REFLECTIVE LAYER

ON THE BACK OF THE CROCODILES' EYES

TO SEE THE EYESHINE.

AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE A LOT MORE CROCODILES

THAN WE SAW DURING THE DAYTIME.

SO THEY'LL JUST SEE THIS BIG, BRIGHT LIGHT

COMING TOWARDS THEM.

AND THAT'LL ENABLE US TO GET REALLY, REALLY CLOSE

AND, HOPEFULLY, TO CATCH THEM.

THIS IS A HARPOON HEAD.

SO YOU'VE GOT THESE FOUR BARBS HERE.

AND IT'S DESIGNED TO GO THROUGH THE SKIN,

THROUGH THE TOP LAYER OF THE SKIN,

AND THEN HOOK ON TO THE SKIN.

SO THIS IS THE REEL.

AND THEN IT'S JUST LIKE PLAYING A BIG FISH.

IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME.

[ THUNDER CRASHING ]

THIS HARPOON LOOKS DEADLY.

BUT THE HEAD IS DESIGNED TO DETACH FROM THE POLE

AND HOOK IN JUST UNDER THE HIDE

WITH MINIMAL HARM TO THE CROCODILE.

IT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF BRINGING ONE IN.

AT FIRST, THE CROCS WE SEE ARE ON THE MUDBANKS

AND OUT OF OUR RANGE.

THEN ONE MAKES A RUN FOR THE RIVER.

THE ANSWER AFTER THIS.

I ASKED...

THE ANSWER IS THE MEGALODON SHARK.

THE SALTY'S BITE FORCE IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A T. REX.

BUT THE NOW-EXTINCT MEGALODON SHARK IS THOUGHT

TO HAVE HAD FIVE TIMES THE BITE FORCE OF BOTH.

ITS JAWS COULD'VE CRUSHED A CAR.

I'M ON THE SEARCH FOR WHAT MIGHT'VE CAUSED THE DEATHS

OF A GROUP OF MEN ALONE IN THE OPEN OCEAN

AFTER THEIR PLANE DITCHED INTO THE SEA.

I'VE JOINED A BIOLOGIST ON A NIGHT HUNT

FOR AUSTRALIA'S LIVING DINOSAURS --

DEADLY SALTWATER CROCODILES.

THE HARPOON HEAD HOLDS.

Britton: YEAH, JUST UNTIE THE HARPOON LINE.

GOOD SHOT, JEREMY. PHEW.

NOW I HAVE TO REEL IT IN.

OH, NO -- OH, YEAH. KEEP GOING UP.

KEEP GOING BACK, KEEP GOING BACK, KEEP GOING BACK.

BIT MORE, BIT MORE, BIT MORE.

THE HARPOON IS DESIGNED TO ONLY PENETRATE ITS HIDE.

THERE HE IS. THERE HE IS. THERE HE IS.

OKAY.

HE'S ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING.

OKAY. A BIT TOO --

EVENTUALLY, THE CROCODILE TIRES,

AND WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IT ALONGSIDE THE BOAT.

WE HAVE THE CROCODILE SECURE.

AND THE HARPOON LINE IS STILL IN.

BUT WE'RE -- THAT'S NOT NEEDED NOW.

WE GOT A VERY GOOD LASSO ON THE UPPER JAW.

THE MAIN THING IS THE JAWS ARE STILL OPEN.

ALTHOUGH SALTIES HAVE INCREDIBLY STRONG MUSCLES

TO SNAP THOSE JAWS SHUT,

THE MUSCLES TO OPEN THEM ARE RELATIVELY WEAK.

BUT EVEN SO, WE CAN'T TAKE ANY CHANCES.

Britton: OKAY. I'M GONNA HAVE --

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. COVER IT.

OKAY. NOW, SIT DOWN ON THE BACK OF IT.

SIT DOWN.

WE CAREFULLY REMOVE THE BARBED HARPOON.

THE THICK, LEATHERY SKIN WILL HEAL QUICKLY.

ADAM COLLECTS THE DATA ON THIS CROCODILE.

FIRST, HE MEASURES IT...

-JUST OVER 8 FEET. -JUST OVER 8 FEET.

...AND CLIPS ONE OF THE SCALES ON ITS TAIL TO IDENTIFY IT.

THERE'S NO POLITE WAY OF SEXING THE ANIMAL.

OKAY. BUT NOTHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL?

-THIS IS A FEMALE. -SORRY ABOUT THAT.

Britton: TURN HER AROUND THAT WAY.

OKAY. SO, THREE, TWO, ONE.

OVER.

OUCH.

SO, AS SOON AS SHE OPENS HER MOUTH, THERE YOU GO.

GONE. THAT'S A NEW TYPE OF FISHING FOR ME,

ACTUALLY ON A LINE --

OKAY, HARPOONS RATHER THAN HOOKS.

BUT, UM...

I THINK THE MAIN THING FOR ME IS JUST HOW MANY

THERE ARE IN THIS BIT OF WATER.

THEY'VE CLEARLY GOT THE POWER TO KILL A MAN.

BUT SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP.

SALTWATER CROCODILES ARE MAINLY FOUND IN ESTUARIES

OR SKIRTING THE COAST TO TRAVEL BETWEEN RIVERS.

THEY RARELY VENTURE OUT TO OPEN OCEAN.

THE CHANCE OF THE PLANE CRASH VICTIMS

ENCOUNTERING A LONE, ROGUE CROCODILE IS SLIM.

SO WHAT OTHER KILLERS ARE IN THIS SEA?

I GET HOLD OF JON ANDERSON,

A JOURNALIST WHO LOOKED INTO THIS STORY,

TO SEE IF I CAN GLEAN ANY NEW DETAILS.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE CASE?

THEY TOOK OFF FROM MORNINGTON ISLAND.

THEY HIT SEVERE WEATHER, AND SOMETHING HAPPENED.

DID THE SEARCH RECOVER ANYTHING?

A SEARCH PARTY,

IT WAS ABLE TO TRACE SOME OF THE VICTIMS

TO A SMALL, UNINHABITED ISLAND.

AND FOOTPRINTS WERE FOUND.

FOOTPRINTS?

THERE WERE SOME FOOTPRINTS FOUND AND A LIMB.

BUT NOTHING ELSE WAS FOUND

OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THAT AIRPLANE.

Wade: UNTIL NOW, I'D BEEN WORKING ON THE PREMISE

THAT THESE MEN HAD PERISHED IN OPEN WATER.

I'D NEVER CONSIDERED THAT ONE OR MORE

OF THEM MIGHT'VE RUN THE GAUNTLET OF THE OCEAN

AND MADE IT TO THE BEACH.

THIS NEW KNOWLEDGE MEANS I'VE BEEN

LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.

AT LEAST SOME OF THESE MEN PERISHED ON LAND.

THAT LEG DIDN'T WASH UP ON THE BEACH.

IT WAS LEFT THERE.

I'VE READ TRANSCRIPTS OF THE INTERVIEWS

WITH THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW THEM.

AND THEY ALL SAY THAT WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE OF THE COUNTRY,

THEY SHOULD'VE SURVIVED ON THAT BEACH.

THERE'S NOTHING ON LAND IN AUSTRALIA,

OTHER THAN CROCODILES, CAPABLE OF DEVOURING THESE MEN.

BUT I DON'T THINK CROCODILES ARE THE WHOLE STORY.

I SUSPECT SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT'VE PLAYED A ROLE HERE.

FOUR OF THE SURVIVORS WERE ABORIGINAL ELDERS.

THEY KNEW THIS LAND AND ITS DANGERS.

I'M HOPING SOME OF THE FISHERMEN

IN THIS REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY

CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

THEY MENTION A FISH THAT I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED BEFORE.

STONEFISH.

RIGHT.

HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?

YEAH?

YEAH. SO YOU...

SAME THING.

AND YOU SAID HOSPITAL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

YEAH.

IS THAT PAIN JUST IN YOUR FOOT, OR DOES IT GO...

YEAH.

THE FISHERMAN TELLS ME I CAN FIND THEM

IN POOLS ALONG THIS BEACH.

THE STONEFISH'S CAMOUFLAGE

MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SPOT,

HIDING IN AND AMONG THE ROCK POOLS OF THE SHORELINE.

I ACTUALLY PRIDE MYSELF

IN BEING ABLE TO SEE THINGS IN THE WATER.

BUT THIS IS TAKING THAT TO A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL.

THERE'S SOMETHING HERE WHICH LOOKS LIKE A ROCK,

BUT IT'S NOT A ROCK.

THIS IS THE MOST VENOMOUS FISH ON EARTH.

WHEN DISTURBED, IT CAN INJECT LETHAL, NEUROTOXIC VENOM.

I KNOW THIS FISH IS DEADLY.

BUT I CAN'T RESIST TAKING A CLOSER LOOK.

I'M INVESTIGATING THE DEATHS

OF A GROUP OF MEN IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.

I NOW KNOW THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE VICTIMS

MADE IT TO SHORE.

AND I SUSPECT CROCODILES ULTIMATELY DISPOSED OF THEM.

BUT I THINK SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT'VE PLAYED A ROLE HERE.

THERE IT IS.

NOT A STONE, BUT A STONEFISH.

WHAT AN AMAZING BEAST.

IT REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE A PIECE OF ROCK.

THIS IS CAMOUFLAGE TAKEN TO THE NTH DEGREE.

WHAT MAKES STONEFISH EVEN MORE DANGEROUS

IS THAT THEY CAN QUITE HAPPILY STAY OUT OF WATER

FOR UP TO 24 HOURS,

MAKING THEM ALL TOO EASY TO STEP ON WHEN THE TIDE RETREATS.

AND IT'S THE SPINES ON THEIR BACK

THAT DELIVER THE DEADLY VENOM.

IT'S ACTUALLY GOT 13 OF THESE DORSAL SPINES.

AND EACH ONE IS BASICALLY A HYPODERMIC.

AND JUST A LITTLE WAY BACK FROM THE POINT

IS THE -- THAT'S WHERE THE VENOM IS.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS, IF YOU TREAD ON ONE OF THESE,

IT'S YOUR BODY WEIGHT THAT INJECTS THAT.

UM, LET'S JUST SEE WHAT THIS THING CAN DO.

UM, FOUND IT ON THE BEACH.

THIS IS THE KIND OF THING I OFTEN WEAR.

PUT THESE ON FOR EYE PROTECTION.

AND I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS.

DID YOU SEE THAT?

IT'S ONLY WHEN THE FOOTAGE IS SLOWED DOWN

THAT YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT

OF VENOM THAT'S DELIVERED BY ONE SINGLE SPINE.

NOW, IF YOU TROD ON THAT,

THAT VENOM WOULD GO INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM AND --

AS WELL AS BEING VERY PAINFUL.

I MEAN, IF YOU GOT PEOPLE WITH YOU,

THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO LOOK AFTER YOU.

I'M DISCOVERING THAT MAKING IT TO SHORE HERE

CAN BE AN EVEN DEADLIER PROPOSITION

THAN BEING LOST AT SEA.

ONE POSSIBLE SCENARIO -- WHO KNOWS --

MAYBE ONE OF THOSE SURVIVORS STEPPED ON ONE OF THESE.

Man: AAH!

AND THAT JUST TOOK EVERYBODY'S CONCENTRATION.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH THAT PERSON.

AND THEN EVENTS JUST WENT ON FROM THERE.

[ MAN SCREAMS ]

EVEN IF ONE OF THE SURVIVORS STEPPED ON THE STONEFISH,

THAT STILL LEAVES FOUR MEN ALIVE.

BUT NORTH AUSTRALIA'S OCEANS HARBOR ONE MORE KILLER.

AND THIS ONE COULD'VE TAKEN OUT THE ENTIRE GROUP.

THE BOX JELLYFISH IS THE MOST VENOMOUS CREATURE ON EARTH.

WITHIN ITS DEADLY TENTACLES

IS A TOXIN POWERFUL ENOUGH TO KILL A MAN

IN UNDER TWO MINUTES SEVERAL TIMES OVER.

DID THE MEN, BELIEVING THEY HAD REACHED SAFETY,

STUMBLE INTO THIS NEAR-INVISIBLE KILLER?

I CHECKED THE DATE THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED

AND DISCOVER THAT NOVEMBER COINCIDES WITH THE START

OF BOX JELLYFISH SEASON.

I'M ON MY WAY

TO MEET SOMEBODY WHO HAS MADE IT HIS LIFE'S WORK

TO UNDERSTAND THESE NEAR-INVISIBLE KILLERS,

PARTICULARLY HOW THEIR TOXIN WORKS ON HUMANS.

NOW, HE KNOWS BETTER THAN MOST WHAT THIS ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE

BECAUSE HE WAS ONCE STUNG ON THE FACE

AND HOSPITALIZED FOR 50 HOURS.

DR. SEYMOUR, I PRESUME?

IT IS, INDEED. THANKS, BUDDY.

DR. JAMIE SEYMOUR HAS SPENT 20 YEARS

RESEARCHING BOX JELLYFISH,

ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR BEHAVIOR

AND HOW THEIR COMPLEX VENOM WORKS.

TO MAKE ANTIVENOM, HE HAS TO COLLECT LIVE SAMPLES.

IT'S RISKY WORK IN 100-PLUS-DEGREE HEAT,

HANDLING THE PLANET'S DEADLIEST CREATURE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A BOX JELLYFISH,

SO I'VE AGREED TO HELP HIM COLLECT SAMPLES

FROM THESE GHOSTLY KILLERS FOR THE ANTIVENOM LAB.

WHAT MAKES THEM SO DANGEROUS TO MAN ARE THEIR TENTACLES.

AN ADULT BOX JELLYFISH CAN GROW UP TO 40 OF THEM.

AND EACH ONE CONTAINS AROUND 5,000 STINGING CELLS.

THAT MAKES 200,000 DEADLY POINTS OF CONTACT.

THEY CAN SENSE WHEN THEY TOUCH SOMETHING LIVING,

AND THAT TRIGGERS THOUSANDS OF TINY DARTS.

THE TOXIN THEN ENTERS THE BLOOD.

IT TAKES ONLY SIX TO SEVEN FEET

OF A SINGLE TENTACLE TO KILL AN ADULT HUMAN.

MY WET SUIT SHOULD ACT AS A BARRIER.

THIS WATER MIGHT LOOK QUITE INVITING,

BUT JAMIE TELLS ME

THAT JUST THIS LITTLE BIT OF BEACH HERE,

THERE COULD BE HUNDREDS OF BOX JELLYFISH.

AND GETTING IN WITHOUT

DUE PRECAUTION AND DUE VIGILANCE

WOULD ACTUALLY BE, I MEAN,

VERGING ON INSANITY.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS...

IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO EXPLAIN IT,

BUT A TRANSPARENT JELLYFISH WITH A SET OF TENTACLES.

RIGHT.

THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE.

AH! SO IT'S JUST A SORT OF A FUZZY, WHITE --

THAT PURPLE IS QUITE --

THE PURPLE IS A DEAD-SET GIVEAWAY.

BUT NOT ALL THE ANIMALS HAVE PURPLE TENTACLES.

YEAH.

ANOTHER ONE OVER HERE. ANOTHER THERE.

I'M JUST THINKING, YOU COULD COME DOWN HERE,

"HOT DAY, LET'S JUST SPLASH THROUGH THE WATER, COOL OFF."

AND YOU COULD DIE, COULDN'T YOU, JUST KNEE-DEEP WATER?

LOOK, IN THESE SORTS OF CONDITIONS,

IT'S NOT A MATTER IF YOU COULD DIE.

IT'S YOU WILL DIE.

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE SWIMMING IN HERE,

AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, YEAH.

YOU'D DIE. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

WE'RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BIGGER SPECIMENS.

JAMIE NEEDS FULLY GROWN ADULTS TO HARVEST THEIR VENOM.

THE MAIN REASON WE'RE HERE IS TO COLLECT VENOM.

WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GRAB THE ANIMAL,

YOU PICK IT UP, YOU CUT THE TENTACLES OFF.

SO WE'LL CUT ABOUT HALF OF THE TENTACLES OFF,

THEN WE CAN TAKE THE TENTACLES BACK TO THE LAB

AND EXTRACT THE VENOM.

AND WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IS THESE GUYS

WILL GROW THE TENTACLES BACK

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HALF TO AN INCH IN LENGTH A DAY.

SO CUTTING OFF HALF THE TENTACLES

IS NOT REALLY A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THESE ANIMALS.

THEY GROW THEM BACK VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

JAMIE HAS LEARNED THAT IT IS POSSIBLE

TO GENTLY GRASP THE JELLYFISH

BY ITS BODY WITHOUT BEING STUNG.

HE TELLS ME THAT, TO DO THIS,

YOU NEED THE SENSITIVITY AND FEEL

THAT CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY USING BARE HANDS.

OH, WHAT'S THAT RIGHT IN THE...

OH, THAT'S A BEAUTY, ACTUALLY. THAT'S CRACKER.

ALL RIGHT.

RIGHT-O.

YOU SEE, SO WE'RE LITERALLY IN SORT OF KNEE-DEEP WATER HERE.

AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE HIM.

YOU WANT TO BE IN FRONT OF THE ANIMAL.

YOU'RE GONNA TAKE TWO HANDS. YES.

AND IT'LL BE A LOT HEAVIER THAN YOU THINK.

RIGHT. OKAY.

IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

TIME TO COMMIT.

AAH!

I'M IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA ATTEMPTING TO FIND OUT

WHAT HAPPENED TO A GROUP OF ABORIGINAL ELDERS

WHO FOUND THEMSELVES ALONE IN THE WATER

AFTER THEIR PLANE DITCHED AT SEA.

AND I'M CLOSING IN ON A KILLER --

THE DEADLY BOX JELLYFISH.

AAH! WAIT A MINUTE.

THAT TOUCHED SOMETHING.

YEAH, THERE'S TENTACLES ALL OVER THE BELL THERE.

YEP, ALL OVER THE BELL.

AFTER ONLY THE BRIEFEST OF TOUCHES,

IT FEELS LIKE MY SKIN IS ON FIRE.

AND THAT WAS WITH LESS THAN 1/10 INCH OF CONTACT.

YES. IT'S STARTIN' TO BURN.

IT'S STARTIN' TO BURN.

IT'S DIALING UP A LITTLE BIT.

IMAGINE 6 OR 7 FEET WITH THAT.

I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY GOT 1/4 INCH, MAYBE.

YES.

SO, YEAH, DIAL IT UP A HECK OF A LOT,

AND YOU START TO GET SOME INDICATION

OF THE PAIN THAT GOES WITH IT.

NOW, FOR ME, I'D LET THAT ANIMAL GO.

-LET IT GO. -WE'LL LOOK FOR ANOTHER ONE

BECAUSE NOW IT'S GOT TENTACLES AND THINGS AROUND ITS BELL.

YOU CANNOT PICK IT UP BY THAT TOP END.

NO. OKAY, SO LEAVE THAT ONE.

ONE ELEMENT OF THIS IS THE PURE SORT OF

TECHNICAL THING ABOUT PICKING IT UP.

BUT THE OTHER THING

THAT'S THERE IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND,

WHICH IT'S GOT TO STAY THERE,

BUT IT MUSTN'T TAKE OVER EVERYTHING ELSE,

IS JUST HOW DANGEROUS THESE THINGS POTENTIALLY ARE.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CROCS HERE.

IT'S VERY SLIPPERY UNDERFOOT. THERE'S MOSSIES BUZZING AROUND.

IT'S, YOU KNOW,

STAYING FOCUSED, AND THE HEAT, AS WELL.

STAYING FOCUSED. IT'S A LOT TO -- DON'T KNOW.

I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT I MIGHT NOT BE

UP TO THE JOB.

BUT I'M DETERMINED TO TRY ONE MORE TIME.

THIS IS NOW PERSONAL.

THAT ONE LOOKED -- AS WE GOT OVER,

IT LOOKED A BIT BIGGER, ACTUALLY.

OKAY. IT'S MORE OR LESS IN A GOOD POSITION, ISN'T IT?

THIS IS A GOOD ONE. YEP.

DONE IT.

I FINALLY OVERCOME MY FEAR.

NOW I CAN GET A GOOD LOOK

AT THIS DEADLIEST OF ALL KILLERS.

IT'S STRANGE. IT DOESN'T LOOK ALIVE.

BUT IT FEELS ALIVE BUT IN A VERY WEIRD WAY.

THAT SIZE ANIMAL'S PROBABLY GOT 7 TO 8 TENTACLES

ON EACH CORNER OF THE BELL.

YOU ONLY NEED 6 OR 7 FEET LONG

IN AN ADULT TO KILL SOMEBODY.

THAT ANIMAL HAS POTENTIAL TO KILL 50 PEOPLE

IN UNDER 2 MINUTES.

WE COLLECT SEVERAL MORE LARGE SPECIMENS

AND HARVEST THEIR VENOMOUS TENTACLES

FOR MAKING ANTIVENOM BACK AT THE LAB.

I STILL CAN'T COMPUTE

THE DEADLINESS OF THE VENOM OF THIS THING.

I MEAN, THIS IS QUITE A BIG ANIMAL.

AND THIS WOULD KILL SEVERAL PEOPLE,

AND IN A VERY, VERY SHORT TIME.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANE CRASH VICTIMS?

SINCE I BELIEVE THEY MADE IT TO THE BEACH,

THEY COULD'VE BEEN DEVOURED BY CROCODILES.

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THESE GHOSTLY CREATURES

ARE WHAT BROUGHT THEM DOWN.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, OF COURSE, WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE WATER HERE THAT MAKES IT SO DANGEROUS?

FOR A START, THE WATER IS VERY WARM.

SO IT'S UNUSUALLY PRODUCTIVE.

AND THIS MEANS THAT THE APEX PREDATORS

CAN GROW TO GIGANTIC SIZES

WITH MASSIVE MOUTHS AND POWERFUL JAWS.

FOR ME, IT'S THE COMBINATION OF BIOCHEMICAL WEAPONS,

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERPOWERFUL VENOM

WITH NEAR INVISIBILITY,

SURELY THE ULTIMATE IN CAMOUFLAGE,

THAT IS THE REALLY SCARY THING.