Classic Fake: Video of Whale Attacking Man on Beach

A shocking video shows a man being attacked and dragged away from the beach by a whale. Some readers have asked if this footage is real or fake.

It’s not real.

The video, which has nearly 3 million views as of August 2015, shows a man frolicking on the beach before a whale suddenly appears and viciously attacks him, then slowly dragging him into the surf. It has been shared thousands of times by shocked viewers. The video was posted to YouTube in early 2011.

Although the popular video begins with the caption, “Guy gets eaten by the killer whale while on the shore,” the video is actually a commercial for a company called “La Sirena” in the Dominican Republic. The subtitles read:  “Not all pencils give you luck, just the pencil ‘La Suerte’ from la Sirena.”

Let’s take a look at the video itself:

For several years, La Sirena has used the character “Lucky Pencil” as a mascot.  The retailer often sponsors giveaways and contests, and “Lucky Pencil” is a symbol of good luck for potential winners. The store’s logo can be seen at the end of video above.

Bottom Line

Although the video of a whale attacking a man on the beach looks convincing, it is just a television ad from the company La Sirena in the Dominican Republic. The company’s logo can be clearly seen at the bottom right toward the end of the video.

Updated August 28, 2015
Originally published January 2013