Man faces off with an aggressive octopus in a rare encounter

Known for their remarkable intelligence, octopuses are usually curious and playful creatures.

However, an Australian geologist witnessed a more defensive side when one octopus fiercely protected its territory in Western Australia.

On March 18, 34-year-old Lance Karlson was strolling along the beach with his two-year-old daughter in Geographe Bay, a well-known snorkeling destination about 140 miles south of Perth, when he spotted what he initially thought was a stingray leaping out of the water.

Realizing the creature was actually an octopus, Karlson began recording the moment – just as the furious creature lunged toward him. The video, posted to his Instagram, has since garnered 60,000 views.

“I filmed it as it struck, and I was really caught off guard. After it attacked, it swam off into deeper waters,” Karlson shared with Dinogo on Friday.

While swimming nearby shortly afterward, Karlson was inspecting a pile of crab shells when he suddenly felt a sharp whip-like sensation on his left arm, followed by a second strike across his neck and upper back.

He suspected the attacker was the same octopus from earlier, reasoning that he had unwittingly gotten too close to its den.

As Karlson struggled to swim back to shore, his goggles fogged up, and the water around him became clouded with what he believed might be ink from the octopus.

“I was more shocked than scared,” Karlson recalled.

Octopuses are known to release an ink-like substance as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened.

Within moments, Karlson noticed a distinct mark in the shape of an octopus tentacle on his neck and back.

A former volunteer lifeguard, Karlson hurried back to his hotel room to find something acidic to treat the wound. The only option available was Coca-Cola, which his wife poured over his back in the shower, and soon the pain began to fade.

“The pain subsided quickly, but what really lingered was the physical impact. The mark on my neck in those photos is a result of the hit, and when you watch the video of the attack from 20 minutes earlier, it all makes sense,” he explained.

Bryan Fry, an associate professor at the University of Queensland's School of Biological Sciences, confirmed that the octopus was a common Octopus vulgaris.

“Like all octopuses, it’s venomous, though generally harmless to humans. Its venom is far more dangerous to invertebrates like clams and lobsters,” Fry told Dinogo on Friday.

Karlson admitted that he had never been so close to an octopus before and decided to watch the Netflix documentary “My Octopus Teacher” afterward to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

“They’re incredible animals, and I really hope this incident sparks more curiosity about octopuses rather than fear. They seem to have deep emotions, much like humans,” he added.