Corpus Christi scientist: Australian activist faked shark attack for attention

Marine biology experts including a Texas scientist are calling out an Australian activist for allegedly faking a shark attack for publicity.

Elissa Sursara, a 26-year-old environmental activist from Australia, said she felt "privileged" after being bitten by what was believed to be a small shark last year, The New Zealand Herald reported.

"I think they're amazing. I feel privileged to have had such an encounter. Not many people can say they have had an encounter like that," Sursara said, adding that the attack made her "more obsessed with sharks than ever."

Sursara posted photos of stitches she received resulting from the attack on her Instagram profile, leading social media watchers to question whether the accident was faked.

That includes Drew Scerbo, a marine biologist at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi,who told 9News in Australiathat Photoshop analysis on the image that circulated through social media confirmed it was doctored.

"While I was trying to determine the possible species involved in the alleged incident, I noticed that several of the surgical staples in the image were identical," Scerbo said.

"Using a 'clone stamp' tool and 'free transformation' application, I can verify that there are four pairs of identical staples in the same image."

He said lying about an attack "only harmed the conservation goals we are desperately trying to accomplish."

jfechter@express-news.net

Twitter: @JFreports

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Corpus Christi scientist: Australian activist faked shark attack for attention