Baby shark caught in glove rescued by couple on scuba diving trip in Rhode Island

Deb and Steve Dauphinais were diving on the sand flats off Jamestown, Rhode Island, when they spotted the creature with its head stuck inside a work glove.

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A couple's scuba diving trip in Rhode Island turned into a mission to rescue a baby shark.

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Deb and Steve Dauphinais, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, were diving on the sand flats off Jamestown, Rhode Island, when Ms Dauphinais spotted the 16in juvenile shark with its head stuck inside a work glove at the bottom of about 35ft of water.

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Ms Dauphinais, a dive instructor, said she thought the shark was dead, but when it twitched she motioned for her husband to come over and help.

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"He came over and did his own little double-take," she said.

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She said her husband tugged on the glove, which seemed to be suctioned to the shark's head, but it eventually popped free.

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Ms Dauphinais said they weren't scared of being attacked by what appeared to be a juvenile dogfish shark, but were cautious, in case it snapped at them.

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"It kind of looked at both of us, didn't look at all injured, got its equilibrium back and then swam off back to where it is supposed to be," she said.

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Ms Dauphinais, who has been an instructor for about three decades, said this is not the first time she has rescued a marine animal in distress.

A few years ago, she freed a black sea bass that had been hooked on a discarded fishing line.

"There are countless stories of underwater sea creatures being killed by underwater sea trash," she said.

"It's an ongoing issue that's near and dear to my heart. But these are the only times I've been able to save something, at least a shark, like that."