A CHRISTCHURCH resident has spoken about her late husband's encounter with a shark more than 40 years ago following recent reports of sightings.

In May 1978, Heather Snow’s husband, David, was involved in Southbourne Fishing Club’s annual angles competition at Double Dykes, Hengistbury Head.

The now 76-year-old retiree said the recent reports brought back happy memories of her and her husband, who sadly passed away last year.

Bournemouth Echo: Heather Snow, from Christchurch, with pictures and newspaper cut outs of her husband David Snow, who has a close encounter with a shark back in May 1978

She said: “The recent stories brought back good memories of my David and if he were still here he would be laughing about it all.”

Looking back all those years Mrs Snow remembers the incident well.

She said: “There we were then suddenly something pulled the rod and reel in at the water.”

“And it was an expensive reel, it cost £75 which was a lot at the time.”

In today’s money that equates to around £378.

Mrs Snow added: “He went rushing in to get the equipment when someone shouted ‘Dave, Jaws’ having spotted a dorsal fin in the water.

“He legged it out with his mate and had a laugh about it on the shore.”

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Mrs Snow said it reminded them of the cult-classic film Jaws, which was released only three years earlier in 1975.

At the time her husband Mr Snow worked offshore on the oil rig so was used to water, but she said she found it highly amusing.

Bournemouth Echo: Heather Snow, from Christchurch, with pictures and newspaper cut outs of her husband David Snow, who has a close encounter with a shark back in May 1978

The original report was included in the Echo, which Mrs Snow still has a copy of cutting now, and even made the news on the TV.

“It was reported to be a certain size in the morning and by the evening reports it had doubled in size,” she added.

The reports of sharks are nothing new, certainly not for Mrs Snow, who says they have been in our waters for years and certainly nothing to fear.

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She added: “Reports of sharks have been happening for so many years.

“They've been here for years and years, they’re nothing to worry about.”