Grégory Metge, who had mastered a blue shark when many people were swimming in the summer of 2020, will receive a bronze medal “for his act of courage and dedication”
The images of this incredible rescue have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on the Internet. On August 4, 2020, around 6 p.m., while many swimmers were still enjoying the joys of summer, Océanides beach, in Capbreton, a young blue shark had come to stir up trouble.
The presence of the animal, trapped by the shorebreak (edge roller) and which could no longer regain the sea, returning inexorably to the beach, had caused a movement of fear among the swimmers.
Grégory Metge, police sergeant attached to CRS 43 of Chalon-sur-Saône, seconded to Capbreton for the summer season, then showed composure and humanity by catching the animal to put it back in the water . He had crossed the first few meters with the young blue shark under his arm before the support of a rescuer in a jet-ski allowed the animal to be released offshore.
“Out of the ordinary action”
“Passionate about sharks since childhood, I knew that this shark was not dangerous for humans, but it must be caught so that it does not bite in panic”, testified the police officer.
Welcoming its “responsiveness” and its “composure”, the Landes prefecture issued an order dated October 15, 2021 to honor this “act of courage and dedication”. As such, the 37-year-old police officer will soon receive – on a date not yet determined – a bronze medal.
“I had not done this action for this purpose, but it’s nice. It highlights an action out of the ordinary, ”smiles the person concerned.
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