On September 20, 2026, at about 10:30 a.m., a great white shark surged into the shallow surf off Great Point Beach on Nantucket and seized a seal. The encounter was filmed by local residents Carrie Drayton and Tyler O’Brien, who were on the beach at the time.
The seal was swimming close to shore when the predator broke the surface and lunged. Witnesses say the shark’s powerful jaws clamped onto the animal before it disappeared back into deeper water. The video shows the brief but dramatic interaction, capturing the moment the shark’s head rose above the rolling waves.
Great white sharks are known to frequent the Massachusetts coastline during the fall, hunting seals that venture near the surf line. Their presence off Nantucket is part of a seasonal pattern that brings larger individuals to the area as prey concentrations rise. The attack at Great Point Beach follows a series of similar sightings reported along the Cape and islands in recent weeks.
The footage recorded by Drayton and O’Brien provides a clear example of the predator‑prey dynamics that marine biologists monitor each year. While the video does not reveal the fate of the seal, it adds to the growing archive of real‑time observations that help scientists understand hunting behavior and the distribution of great whites along New England’s shorelines.
Authorities were notified of the incident, but no immediate response was required as the event occurred in open water and posed no direct threat to beachgoers. The video has been shared with local conservation groups, who plan to use it for educational purposes and to inform the public about the natural risks present in coastal habitats during the shark season.