Golf Course Shock: Hammerhead Shark Plummets from Sky in Bizarre Real-Life ‘Sharknado’ Twist

Real-Life ‘Sharknado’? Hammerhead Shark Plummets from Sky onto Golf Course
By Xantha Leatham, Executive Science Editor | Updated: 11:38 BST, 10 June 2025

In a bizarre incident straight out of a Hollywood script, a small hammerhead shark fell from the sky onto a disc golf course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, leaving witnesses stunned.

The Unexpected Discovery

The shark landed near the 11th hole at Splinter City Disc Golf Course on May 18. Jonathan Marlowe, who was playing with friends, described the moment as surreal: “We couldn’t believe it and kept asking ourselves, ‘Did that really just happen?’”

The event drew immediate comparisons to the 2013 cult film Sharknado, where tornadoes hurl deadly sharks through the air. However, the real-world explanation is slightly less fantastical—but no less extraordinary.

The Culprit: An Osprey’s Failed Hunt

Ospreys, birds of prey renowned for diving to snatch fish from water, are common in coastal areas. Experts speculate one such osprey likely scooped up the juvenile hammerhead from the ocean but struggled to carry it. Marlowe reported seeing crows harassing the osprey mid-flight, causing it to drop its unusual catch.

“It’s not uncommon to see an osprey carrying something, but I thought it would be a random fish,” Marlowe told Garden & Gun magazine. The shark, already dead when it fell, measured roughly two feet long.

Why Did the Shark Fall?

While “sharknadoes” remain fictional, real-life animals occasionally rain from the sky. Waterspouts can lift fish or frogs, dropping them miles away. In this case, however, the blame lies with avian mishaps. Crows often mob larger birds during nesting season to protect their young, which likely forced the osprey to abandon its heavy payload.

A Local Oddity

Myrtle Beach’s disc golf community is no stranger to wildlife—snakes, alligators, and raccoons are routine sightings. But a shark? That’s a first. Photos of the incident quickly circulated online, blending humor and disbelief.

While the shark posed no danger, the event serves as a quirky reminder of nature’s unpredictability. As Marlowe joked, “You really do have to watch your head out here.”

Images:

1. A hammerhead shark lies on the golf course after falling from the sky.
2. Scene from Sharknado (2013), depicting airborne sharks.
3. Osprey in flight—a skilled hunter behind the bizarre incident.

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