VIDEO: Shark Caught In Crab Trap Rescued By Pinellas County Deputies

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — When a shark recently needed help, Pinellas County marine unit deputies didn't hesitate to come to its rescue— despite the fact that it was, well, a shark.

Earlier this week, deputies said they were flagged down by a boater who notified them that a shark was caught on a crab trap nearby.

"Get the boat going backwards. Go backwards. Go backwards," a deputy is heard saying on video as fellow officers try to get the shark closer to their boat to free it.

"He [the shark] is very tired," another deputy tells a co-worker who is trying to avoid being pulled into the water by the shark.

In the video, deputies are careful to not get too close to the shark's mouth, which obviously contains many sharp teeth!

"Careful, Jill," a deputy responds.

"Whoo. Oh, that's six foot. That's at least six foot," another deputy says, referring to the length of the shark.

After deputies could not safely remove the entire hook, they said they cut as far down on the line as they could, so the shark could live to see another day.

Watch video of the shark rescue: