Swimming with Sharks

Thor meets ‘Jaws’ as Chris Hemsworth embarks on a mission to save the ocean’s top predator

- Chris Hemsworth

NEW FACTUAL

Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth

Monday, National Geographic WILD HD, 8 pm

Actor Chris Hemsworth has always been a keen surfer. But he admits that when he’s in the ocean, he’s wary about what’s underneath him.

‘Living on Australia’s east coast, I’ve spent a big part of my life in and around the ocean,’ says the Thor star.

‘I’ve never seen a shark while surfing but you definitely feel their presence and there’s been a couple of moments when I’ve been certain there’s something underneath me.’

In a new special, showing as part of National Geographic WILD’s Sharkfest, the movie star takes to the water as he seeks to understand how mankind can live more harmoniously with sharks.

‘Sharks are some of the planet’s most elegant and magnificent creatures,’ he says. ‘I want to find out if we can live together without doing each other harm.’

DANGER

His mission comes at a crucial time. Last year, there were eight fatal shark attacks off Australia’s beaches – the highest figure in almost a century – with some experts suggesting that global warming could be what is bringing the sharks closer and closer to shorelines.