15-Year-Old Saved a Shark After It Washed Ashore in New Brunswick
Fifteen-year-old Finn Holland loves animals, so when he learned that a shark had washed up on a beach near his home in Maces Bay, N.B., on Saturday evening, he knew he had to help. The 15-year-old saved a shark after spotting subtle movements and realizing the animal was still alive.
Holland and his family drove their side-by-side vehicle down their long driveway, which leads directly to the beach in the small community southwest of Saint John. The moment became an unforgettable rescue after the 15-year-old saved a shark that appeared to be in serious distress.
“When we saw it, it looked really hurt, it almost looked dead,” Holland said. “But then we saw subtle movements.”
“So I dragged him in by the tail into the ocean and I helped him guide himself in the water, and he just took off.”
Finn Holland rescued a two-metre, 70-kilogram porbeagle shark that had washed ashore. (Submitted by Jill Holland)
At first, Holland was hesitant to touch the shark because it was about two metres long and weighed roughly 70 kilograms. The animal has since been identified as a porbeagle shark.
The 15-year-old saved a shark by carefully pulling it toward the water and helping guide it into the ocean.
“I was stunned, I mean, it was so fascinating,” Holland said.
Finn Takes Action to Help the Shark
Finn’s mother, Jill Holland, said she was not surprised that her son decided to step in and help the stranded animal.
“It’s exactly the sort of thing that he would do, just not even ask, just you know what, I gotta go, I gotta go save a shark, see ya,” she said.
“He just kind of took it upon himself and I was so nervous.”
Jill said her family has lived in the community for 11 years and had never heard about sharks being in the area.
The 15-year-old saved a shark despite initially being hesitant because of the animal’s size and weight. The unusual rescue has since attracted attention within the community.
According to a shark expert, the sighting was unusual.
‘Rare’ Encounter, Expert Says
“Encounters, especially in the natural environment, without like actually going out and hooking them or fishing them, are pretty rare,” said Neil Hammerschlag, director of the Shark Research Foundation and president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions.
“I consider, you know, a sighting of that species is a pretty special one.”
Hammerschlag said the sighting is particularly unusual because porbeagle sharks are normally found in deeper water. (Submitted by Neil Hammerschlag)
Unlike most sharks, Hammerschlag explained, porbeagles can keep their body temperature warmer than the surrounding water. That allows them to enter the cooler waters of Atlantic Canada and the New England region.
But the shark’s presence in shallow water was surprising, he said, and could indicate that the animal was in distress.
“Maybe sick or maybe it had an interaction with, you know, fishing gear and was caught and then released,” he said.
The 15-year-old saved a shark at a time when the animal appeared to need immediate help. The expert said the unusual location could be a sign that something was wrong with the shark.
Endangered Species
Hammerschlag said the encounter is also significant because porbeagle shark populations have declined substantially over the years as a result of overfishing.
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada first listed the species as endangered in the Atlantic Ocean in 2004. The porbeagle is now protected under the Species at Risk Act.
“It’s great that someone was brave enough and able to get it back in the water,” Hammerschlag said.
Finn said he was surprised by how much support his shark rescue received within his community. His decision to help the stranded animal quickly became a memorable moment for people in the area.
The story of how the 15-year-old saved a shark has drawn attention because Finn acted quickly after realizing the animal was still alive.
“Animals, it’s like they can’t thank you … for what we did, but you kind of just feel it from their presence, that makes you feel that you did the right thing.”
Finn’s actions turned an unexpected discovery on a New Brunswick beach into a remarkable rescue. After noticing that the shark was still alive, he helped guide the animal back into the ocean. For Finn, the experience was a powerful reminder of why he cares so much about animals.
The 15-year-old saved a shark and gave the stranded porbeagle another chance to return to the ocean.
Jagroop Singh is a seasoned tech journalist, digital content strategist, and niche publisher specializing in breaking down complex technical frameworks and emerging digital media trends into actionable, consumer-friendly insights.