How to survive a shark attack, second by agonizing second: I punched its snout, but its jaws clamped tighter... it wasn't until I gouged the one weakness spot that it let go

By MICHAEL TOUGIAS FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 02:34, 12 July 2026 | Updated: 02:34, 12 July 2026 Sonny, Lu and Paul had left their Louisiana homes on a beautiful Saturday morning in October 2022 with the hopes of catching some red snapper they'd grill with their families later that evening. Instead, after the weather deteriorated suddenly, their fishing boat capsized in a matter of minutes, 12 miles from shore, leaving them only enough time to grab their life jackets, two coolers and their cell phones, which had no reception so far from land.  Lu Nguyen could not even locate an adult life jacket and was forced to wear one designed for children – which he couldn't fasten securely so had to put on backward, with the head rest in the front of his neck, in order for it not to float away.  They had been treading water in the Gulf of Mexico – using the coolers as flotation devices - for 24 hours. But they were suffering from sun exposure, multiple jellyfish stings and severe dehydration. Sonny Nguyen (no relative to Lu) had even suffered a heart attack.  Despite making a vow to stay together no matter what, Paul Le gambled his fate, convinced he could swim to a shrimp boat a mile away.  He had struck out on his own to get help but, two hours later, he hadn't returned and the boat had disappeared. That likely meant Paul hadn't made it and drowned. Growing increasingly exhausted – and demoralized over the loss of their friend – Sonny and Lu made a last desperate attempt to kick to an oil rig over three miles away, but once again the current drove them far from their target, and safety.  It seemed like things could hardly get worse. Then the sharks started circling.  The three friends - from left to right: Lu Nguyen, Paul Le, and Sonny Nguyen - set off on a sunny Saturday expecting to catch some red snapper Paul's boat - a 24-foot center console Proline Lu was attacked by a 10-foot tiger shark For the first time, their story can be told in full, including the heart-stopping minutes an exhausted and demoralized Lu fought for his life against a 10-foot tiger shark.  The following is an exclusive excerpt from a new book about their ordeal, In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival, and Courage. Sonny stops kicking, and Lu looks him in the eye saying: 'I don't know how much longer I can go on. If you can, bring my body home. If I die just tie my body to the coolers.'  Sonny shakes his head and slowly answers, enunciating every word: 'You will not die.' 'I'm doing my best,' says Lu, 'but it's only a matter of time until I can't keep my head out of the water.' 'Listen to me! If you die I'm going to stuff you in the ice chest and deliver you to your parents.' Sonny is serious. He can see Lu has no energy left and that the crippling fatigue is sapping his will to live. Lu is right, thinks Sonny, he may not last longer. 'If you die, I'm not going to leave you.' Lu's kicks are feeble, but it's the best he can do. By now their families must know the boat sank and the search is on. But this hopeful thought collides with the facts: Other than a plane they spotted during the night, they haven't seen any aircraft or Coast Guard boats. Suddenly, Lu's eyes go wide and he tries to process what he sees. Just five feet away a shark's gray dorsal fin and enormous head rushes at him. Lu recoils, jerking his head high, every neuron in his brain firing fear and adrenaline. With mouth agape showing rows of razor-sharp teeth, the shark lunges at him, aiming for Lu's neck and head. Its jaw snaps shut. The impact sends Lu reeling backward, then he feels his body being yanked forward. The shark has bitten down on his kiddie life jacket, missing his neck by less than an inch. A photo Lu took of himself when he thought he only had a few minutes left to live so his parents would know he was still alive on day two Sonny's legs criss-crossed with whip-like markings from the jellyfish stings The shark thrashes its head from side to side, jerking Lu's body from its perch between the coolers and shaking him like a rag doll. It has its prey in control and just needs to finish it off. Lu manages to raise his right arm and with all his force punch down on the shark's snout. The blow does nothing to deter the predator. It seems intent on dragging Lu from the coolers and his fellow survivor. Water swirls and boils. Perhaps the shark thinks it has a hold on Lu's body and by thrashing is going to remove a hunk of flesh. The shark's black eyes are only inches from Lu's, its head broad and more than a foot wide. Lu punches the shark with his left hand, his whole body feeling electric, powerful. But this newfound strength has little effect and only makes the shark snap its head more viciously, using its tail to add power. Lu tries pushing the shark's head away, feeling the sandpaper-like skin scrape his hand. Only a couple of seconds have gone by since the start of the attack but it seems to last an eternity.  The shark has several options to subdue Lu for the kill. It can drag him under, tow him away from the coolers to finish him off, or open its mouth and snap it shut directly on Lu's face. Lu is down to one last maneuver. He slaps his right hand on the shark's face and uses his thumb to feel for the shark's eye, then pushes it against the eye. He does the same with his left hand. Pain shoots up from his hands. Sonny has come from around the coolers and can't believe what's happening in the chaos of churning water. The shark is enormous, somewhere between nine to ten feet long, and he can see a couple of faint stripes on it. A tiger shark.  It looks like the shark has bitten into Lu's neck and is trying to sever his head. But then he sees a piece of the life jacket sticking out of the beast's mouth. Lu's hands are on top of the shark's head, and at first glance it looks like Lu is wrestling with it. Sonny kicks toward the commotion, thinking he'll try to land a blow on the shark's nose, but at that very moment the shark releases the life jacket and with a powerful sweep of its tail turns in an arc and disappears. Sonny's mind screams: Where is it? He's afraid the shark is making a submerged U-turn and at this very moment is charging back for a fresh bite. Or maybe the shark is below them and coming back up like a torpedo.  He sticks his head underwater. The monster shark is not there, but he can see three or four other large ones circling just six or seven feet down, moving faster now than before, apparently agitated or excited by the recent commotion or the scent of blood. Popping his head up, Sonny kicks to Lu. 'Are you all right? Are you OK?' Lu can't speak, his breath coming in gasps. The kiddie life vest Lu was wearing - now shredded by the shark's teeth - saved his life The Coast Guard had to search an area the size of Rhode Island to find the shipwrecked men The rescue team (from left to right): Jacob Daily, Austin Lundquist, Matt Marchalonis, Dan Todd, Derek Victory The three men owe their lives to the US Coast Guard rescuers Sonny puts his head just five inches from his friend's. 'Are you hurt?' Lu holds up his right hand, blood streaming from it. There are lacerations in two spots but the more concerning wound is a deep slice through the top of his index finger that removed part of the flesh. Sonny's mind is racing. Can't have blood in the water. 'Lu, try and get back in your position between the coolers, but put your hurt hand inside one of them.' Blood drips into the cooler and both men rest. Lu's hand throbs and his mouth feels like somebody stuffed it with cotton, his dehydration makes producing saliva impossible. Sonny is on high alert, head swiveling, searching for dorsal fins and occasionally looking below. It's just a matter of time before they swarm the two survivors. The Coast Guard is aware the men are missing and begins a search, but estimates there is only a one percent chance of the men being found alive. The search area is as large as the state of Rhode Island. Yet through a series of minor miracles – and the survivors' determination not to give up – all three are located after 28 hours of being punished by the ocean.  The rescue swimmer who jumps from the helicopter to pull them from safety can't help but notice a number of sharks are circling them just below the water's surface. Excerpted from In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival, and Courage by Michael J Tougias, published by St Martin's Press, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers.