• A small hammerhead shark unexpectedly fell from the sky onto a disc golf course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
• The shark was likely dropped by an osprey after being attacked mid-air by two crows.
• The bizarre incident went viral online, amusing locals and sparking widespread media attention.

What began as a relaxing afternoon of disc golf turned into a scene straight out of a surreal movie. A hammerhead shark plummeted from the sky in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A group of friends, gathered for a casual game, were left stunned after the unlikely intruder crash-landed onto their course—interrupting the peaceful game in the most bizarre way.

The incident happened at the Splinter Disc City Golf Course, a popular local hangout for both beginners and seasoned players. On that day, the sun was shining, spirits were high. No one expected their game would be upstaged by a mid-air shark drop.

“We just froze” – Friends caught in fishy chaos

Jonathan Marlowe, one of the players on the course, managed to capture the surreal moment with a series of photos that have since made their rounds on social media. In one image, his friend stands wide-eyed, holding a small hammerhead shark—still damp and glistening—from where it had just fallen near the tee-off point for hole 11.

“We were just about to take our shots when we saw this bird flying overhead,” Marlowe shared online. “It had something in its claws, and we figured it was a fish. But then two crows came out of nowhere and started harassing it. Next thing we know, whatever it was dropped right onto the fairway.”

That “whatever” turned out to be a young hammerhead shark, measuring just over a foot in length. The group gathered around, too stunned to speak at first, as they tried to process what had just happened. The scene was both comical and eerie—an ocean predator dropped like litter from above.

The ocean meets the sky, meets the golf course

Experts believe the shark was originally snatched by an osprey, a bird of prey known for its fishing skills and strong talons. It’s not uncommon for ospreys to carry fish or small sea creatures through the air. They usually head for their perch or nest. What’s unusual here is that this osprey found itself mid-flight under attack.

The two crows—territorial and fearless—appeared to take offense to the large bird flying in their space. In a flurry of wings and squawks, they forced the osprey to let go of its catch. The shark, likely already stunned from being snatched out of the water, plummeted to earth like a scaly meteorite.

While nature documentaries often show the violence of the animal kingdom, this was the raw, unscripted version. It was complete with stunned golfers as the live audience.

Locals react: “Only in Myrtle Beach”

The photos and the story spread like wildfire across social media, quickly becoming a topic of fascination and laughter. Comments flooded in with everything from disbelief to humor.

“Only in Myrtle Beach do you have to worry about shark attacks on a golf course,” one commenter joked.

Another local quipped, “First gators on the green, now sharks from above. What’s next, a whale in the parking lot?”

While the tone online was mostly lighthearted, others pointed out how moments like these remind us just how intertwined nature and urban life can be in coastal regions. Myrtle Beach residents are used to spotting wildlife—from sea turtles and dolphins to the occasional alligator near a pond. But sharks from the sky? That’s a new one.

A young hammerhead’s final journey

Though the story seems humorous at first glance, it’s also tinged with a bit of sadness. The young hammerhead, likely a scalloped hammerhead based on its shape and size, didn’t survive the ordeal. Experts say the stress of being captured by a bird, carried through the sky, and dropped on dry land would have been too much. It was too much for the small creature.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that scalloped hammerheads typically inhabit tropical and warm temperate waters. They can grow to impressive lengths—up to 11 feet. However, this one was still in the early stages of its life.

Marine biologists pointed out that while young sharks are often preyed upon by larger marine predators, birds of prey also pose a threat. This threat does occur in shallow waters. This shark may have been swimming close to shore when the osprey spotted it and swooped in.

So… should we watch the skies now?

Not quite. Despite the dramatic nature of this event, it’s incredibly rare. Ospreys hunt fish all the time, but they usually go unnoticed. This is unless they’re flying close to populated areas. The fact that this happened in full view of a group of disc golfers—and that it involved a shark—makes it a once-in-a-lifetime type of event.

Still, the story has now joined the ranks of viral wildlife encounters that blur the line between reality and something out of a cartoon. For the group of golfers who witnessed it firsthand, their regular game of disc golf has become a tale. It’s a tale they’ll tell for years to come.

As Jonathan Marlowe put it, “We didn’t score a hole-in-one, but we definitely got a story no one else can top.”

It’s clear that while the shark’s journey ended in an unusual and unfortunate way, the memory of it lives on. It is part local legend, part cautionary tale, and entirely unforgettable.

Myrtle Beach may be known for its sunshine, boardwalks, and beach vibes, but now it has another claim to fame: the day it rained sharks on a disc golf course.