Sharks Attacks And Fire Escape Ladders
Original owner of image:Charles Maxwell
Date of original image: March 8, 2001
Ladder type:Rope Ladder. Fire Escape Ladder, Rescue Ladder
Used for: Did you know that the ladder that they use as a “rescue ladder” is very much the same as most types of fire escape ladders!?! It’s an odd fact but also true.
How many different web pages is this ladder image on: 14,000,000+
Where is it: False Bay, South Africa
Story behind it: Helicopter Shark is in fact a composition of two photographs that gives the impression that a Great White shark is leaping out of the water attacking military personnel climbing a suspended rescue ladder attached to a special forces UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The photo was widely circulated via an email in March 2001, along with a claim that it had been chosen as “National Geographic Photo of the Year”. The email in question was usually written in the following form: “AND YOU THINK YOUR HAVING A BAD DAY AT WORK !!” The photo is similar to an incident in the 1966 film Batman where a shark attacks Batman on a ladder from a helicopter. This raised suspicions that the photo in question was a hoax which indeed it was. But the fact of buying fire escape ladders that look like the rescue ladder as seen in the picture can save your live one day is still very much true even today. And who knows! getting one might even save you from a shark!
Do you need some help or advice about buying or choosing the right ladder for the job?
Or maybe you would like to do a guest post or link on our blog!
Then call us on 08450 647 647 or drop us a message over on our Ladders Blog, Facebook, Google+ and Twitter pages. We always reply as quickly as we can and you’ll find plenty of funny and enjoyable posts, stories, images, tips and answers about most the products we sell. Or if you have a question that is bugging you it might be worth taking a look at our frequently asked questions.
Liked the pic and the idea of advertising you’ve used.
Thank you. We just think that a work/selling related blog doesn’t have to be boring at all. Ladders sadly are not the most interesting thing to talk about.
But with a little research you can find interesting things to link them to.
As you must realise already with all the comments you have generated, you are seriously creative about promoting your business- I’m not going to forget this image and will think about your company in conjunction with it. All the best and thx for following my upcycle blog.
Thank you so much. And it has to be said you have some of the best upcycling posts around. (no, seriously people it really is that good, go and take a look!)
Good job tracking down the truth about that photo! When I saw your blog title, I thought maybe it was about a new children’s game to replace that old classic, Chutes ‘n Ladders!
When we got married 35 years ago we lived in an apartment in downtown Dallas on the second floor. My dear father-in-law (who died three years after our wedding) gave us the gift of an escape ladder. It hooks over a window sill and you toss down the ladder part. The part that hooks over the window sill is curved into a good hand-hold to start climbing down. Thankfully, we have never had to use it, but I’ve always kept it. Now that we’re remodeling our attic into Narnia for our kids and grandkids to us, you have reminded me that I need to haul the ladder out and make sure they all know where it is, just in case. I’ll definitely do a post on the ladder, now that I’ve thought of it, and I’ll link to your blog. My dear father-in-law, whom I called Dad, would be thrilled to know we’ve never needed to use his gift! He was an Army JAG officer who worked in intelligence in Europe in WWII, and was always one to be prepared and disciplined. But I won’t say any more because I don’t want to spoil my future post!
WOW! That is great to hear and what a fantastic gift to give you. I’m sure many people would disagree with me about that but you don’t need to be a mad prepper in order to be prepared.
Great picture thanks for taking a look at my new blog. I am new at this so any help is welcomed….
Well you might be new but just keep going. For my best advice is to look at other peoples blogs and see how they do it. (and also what they blog about)
Many thanks John for checking out my newest blog – How does your Garden Grow. Its been my dream to have a ladder of plants – something I think I can work into my balcony!
No problem, you have a good blog. And it will be worth checking out the old reused wooden step ladder images as lots of people paint them and use them to display plants in the garden.
Hi John! Thanks for checking out my brand new and learning blog!
Love this pic of the ladder and shark…hard to believe anyone would REALLY buy it but it sure is entertaining. My husband entertained me by climbing up our pecan tree with a ladder, but then took it a step further. Nothing I would recommend LOL but I posted the pic!
Have a great day!
Pingback: Up a Pecan tree WITH a ladder! | Yogagoddess's Inspirations
Great photo!
Awesome photo! Made me smile. What a unnique way to sell ladders
Thanks for following my fledgling blog. I have an old ladder that I’m getting ready to start a project on. Check back later!
That sounds great ! Please drop us a comment to let us know because we would love to share it!
No that’s how you sell ladders, brilliant pic.
I had to do a double take on this picture!
Hilarious post! I’ve never seen this picture before. I had to scroll down to see the shark and soldier, and when I did I nearly spit out my coffee. I was so taken. Then, to find out you sell ladders really made me laugh. Well played.
Sharks and Ladders? Thanks for following my blog.
Here’s a ladder story for ya: http://thelastofthemojitos.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/getting-high-or-ill-take-the-ladder/
Thanks for following my blog! Your’s is fascinating! Maybe we’ll do a lesson in our homeschooling about ladders!
I remember seeing this image when it first made the rounds–I figured it was a hoax! Thanks for proving me right! Hahaha! Great post!
Thank you. And yeah it’s as fake as they come. But it would have been the best image of all time if it was true!
I agree! I wanted it to be true! ( as long as the guy was safe, that is.)
Nice shark pic. Do you have any pics of a guy on a ladder in a basement or in a dark place? It would go great with my “What is that smell?” blog. I could add a link to your page on the pic. Any ideas?
Nice shark pic. I don’t suppose you’ve got any pics of a guy on a ladder in a basement or dark place do you? It would go great with my “What is that smell?” blog. And I can add alink to your site on the pic. Any ideas? Haven’t been at this long.
The only thing close to that is this one-> http://higgledypiggledywonderland.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/photo-display-diy/ But any credit must goto Damian Lidgard the photogather not us.
Thank you for following my blog, LIfe Through the Kitchen Window. I thought I’d check out your blog, and was quite surprised to see it’s about ladders, as most of my followers are fellow food bloggers. But hey, you’re got to eat after a hard day of selling and writing about ladders, right? I had no idea there are so many different types of ladders, and enjoy the interesting way you write about them. I’ll be following your blog because, clearly, there’s a lot more about ladders that I need to know!
LOL Thank you for folloing ours. We don’t just search for ladder related blogs it’s about DIY, craft but with your blog we were forced to follow because of all the yummy images. Can’t….stop….looking!*LOL* Anyway it’s a great blog so keep up the good work.
I appreciate the feedback about my blog! Maybe one of these days I’ll photograph my food on a ladder. Sorry to say I don’t know exactly what kind mine is, but it’s aluminum! Tell you what, if I do that I’ll link back to your blog.
That would be great and if you do we will re-blog it. Because i’m sure lots of people will love your blog as well.
Whoaaa that pictures insane!
Insane but also a complete fake.
Thanks for following my blog. I’ll try to work in something about ladders….
That is OK. We always keep an eye out for DIY and craft blogs then follow the good ones. And you have a good blog indeed.
Have to say I do love a ladder especially if it’s old and being used for non ladder specific purposes. Can’t quite take in the above photo. It is utterly terrifying–yup I am a wimp– but equally brilliant. Thanks for the follow and glad I got to see this very, very interesting blog.
Hi John: I had asked you to write a guest blog for Custom Built by You and you suggested it might be better for me to write one for your blog. I have a rough draft. Don’t know how long you want it or if you want me to include photos or if you will. How shall I send that to you for your reveiw?
~Jo
Sounds great. If you send it to turtle4578588@gmail.com then as soon as I have looked over it it will be posted. The marketing team are having a week off this week so it will be perfect timing and you will have the top post all to yourself for a few days.
Wow!! Can’t even imagine….glad you said it was fake….sure looks real!
What a cool idea for a blog. Thanks for following mine.
Thank you for your kind words. And we are always on the lookout for cool, craft, diy, design blogs.
Reblogged this on 5oh9.
scary…but thrilling!
Not too scary it is a fake. But we see what you mean.
Thanks for the Follow, much appreciated
No problem. We love reading DIY/craft blogs.
Thank`s for stopping on my blog, it`s always good to hear that someone is following my progress. I like the action on your blog, its a great photo.
No problems. And yes we did indeed like your blog.
Hi John. I have to admit at first I was thinking “What the heck is this blog supposed to be about?” Then I just rolled with it. Nice work on your blog, and I hope that you enjoy mine as well. Do you sew? Have kids? Just wondering what made you interested in following my blog…
Enjoy the Dance
Rebecca
First up thank you. Your words are far too kind. And secound yes to child (boy age 3) and yeah I am always looking for new craft, diy and upcycling blogs that I can not only read but pass onto all of the people that read this page everyday. (about 2,000 ladder nerds everyday. *LOL*) Any idea that can save money or show us all how to make something old look new is good news.
I am definitely not a ladder nerd (sadly I don’t even own one… unless you count a step stool), but I love your blog, so I will continue to follow.
Who knows, I might even buy a ladder one day.
Awesome! Thumbs up to saving a penny and using what we have. Not only for us, but it helps the earth too.
hi there! i am absolutely not a fan of ladders (having recently crushed my thumb in a telescopic set!) but got reeled in by your intriguing title. what a picture?! makes me glad to be a lawyer! :0) well, you’ve opened my eyes to the world of ladders and i’m going to go read about the cats and soft toys now…
Well sorry to hear about the thumb, but at least you found some enjoyment with ladders at last. We are all fellow ladder nerds on here.
the cat and soft toy post has reaffirmed my faith in ladders!
Thanks for the boost John, I will keep an eye on your stuff too.
No problems. And thank you.
That photo scared the crap out of me. Glad to know sharks aren’t that malicious.
Yeah it would put you off a low altitude helicopter ride for sure!
Hi there, I love this picture! I too wondered if it was real. Thanks for the like and follow of my blog!
No problems. And you have a great blog, so looking forward to seeing what you post.
I’d not seen this pic before and looked in horror at it before I read the post! Very clever . . . who knew there were so many types of ladder?
At least it wasn’t real. For many a year it was thought that it was!
Thanks for liking http://cioccolatoscuro.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/swinging-saturday/. Stay tuned for more :^)
No problems. Looking forward to seeing what you post.
Hilarious, this picture always ends up popping up on FB every year….
Yeah it does. But at least the questions of “was it real?” has been answered.