Culture

ABC News Just Made A Very Unfortunate Typo When Reporting On A ‘Shark Attack’

The victim is in a stable condition.

by Rebecca Shaw  19 July 2020
Shark Attack

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Viewers watching an update on ABC News yesterday about a shark attack noticed a very unfortunate typo. 

Before you read any further, it’s important to know that the young boy in this story who suffered a shark attack is in a stable condition, recovering in hospital. The 10-year-old was fishing with his father when a shark, thought to be a Great White, pulled him from the boat they were fishing from. His amazing dad immediately jumped in after him, and the shark let him go. The boy’s life jacket was shredded, and he suffered cuts to his head, chest, and arms. Absolutely terrifying! Of course, this is a very newsworthy story, as shark attacks are reported on in detail across this country. Attacks like this are very scary and serious, and they are reported on with weight and gravity. That’s what made this ABC News error even more incredibly unfortunate.

Typos happen, mistakes happen, news organisations are under incredible stress with ever-diminishing resources. But the fact that the letter ‘K’ was mistakenly replaced with the letter ‘T’ and not any of the other many letters it could have been replaced with is really unfortunate. Less people would have noticed and taken photos of their screens if it had simply been an accidental ‘SHARF ATTACK’ or even ‘SHARP ATTACK’. But no, it became ‘SHART ATTACK’ and it just couldn’t be ignored.

Some quick-thinking viewer even grabbed footage of the mistake.

But all’s well that ends well, with the boy in a stable condition, and the reporter of the story thrilled to be part of this iconic moment.

Stay safe out there.