Hammerhead shark fell from the sky, leaving players stunned and scrambling for answers.
The strange scene unfolded on May 18 near the 11th hole of the popular Myrtle Beach course. What initially looked like a bizarre hoax turned out to be a very real predator, dropped from above by a bird of prey — an osprey — that lost control of its catch mid-air.
A Shark in the Trees?
Disc golfer Jonathan Marlowe was on the course when he spotted the commotion above:
“We saw an osprey flying overhead with something in its claws,” Marlowe said. “Then two crows started chasing it, and it flew into a tree. Moments later, we saw something fall — and it was a small shark!”
Photos of the incident show a juvenile hammerhead shark, measuring just over a foot long, lying on the ground. The wide, distinctive head — known as a cephalofoil — made identification easy.
How Did It Get There?
According to Marlowe and local wildlife experts, the shark was likely snatched from the nearby ocean by the osprey, a bird known for hunting fish. But in this case, its lunch didn’t make it back to the nest.
The osprey was reportedly mobbed by two crows, a behavior where smaller birds harass larger ones during nesting season. The chaos forced the raptor to drop its catch — right onto the disc golf course.
Wildlife Meets Weird Weather
While rare, incidents like this aren’t entirely unheard of. Birds of prey like ospreys can carry fish significant distances before accidentally dropping them.
Still, seeing a hammerhead shark in the woods? That’s a first for many locals.
“People talk about snakes and gators on the course,” Marlowe said. “But a shark? That’s next level. We kept asking each other, ‘Did that really just happen?’”
Which Shark Species Was It?
South Carolina’s coast is home to several hammerhead species, including the bonnethead, scalloped hammerhead, and the rare Carolina hammerhead, which was only formally identified in 2013.
Though the exact species of the fallen shark isn’t confirmed, wildlife officials believe it may have been a bonnethead due to its size and common presence in local waters.
Viral and Unforgettable
The story and photos have exploded across social media and local news, with people around the world sharing their disbelief.
Some commenters joked that it was a “real-life Sharknado,” while others asked if it was a prank. But according to everyone present, this was as real as it gets.
Marlowe left the shark behind, hoping the osprey might return to reclaim it.
“It dropped it fair and square — maybe it deserved a second chance.”
It’s not every day a hammerhead shark falls from the sky, but this rare encounter has certainly made waves in Myrtle Beach. And thanks to a perfectly timed camera snap — and some unexpected aerial drama — it’s a story no one on the course will forget anytime soon.