An incredible scene unfolded Wednesday morning (1/4) near the Hermosa Beach dock in southern California when a white shark was accidentally caught in the line of a young fisherman.

Specifically, according to the LA Times, the 20-year-old fisherman, Kevin Fan, did not hesitate to approach the shark in shallow water wearing only underwear while holding a pair of scissors and attempting to free it.

At the same time, a crowd had gathered at the pier to observe the incident. After a few minutes of struggling to free the shark from the line, Fan lifted the animal by its tail and managed to push it back into its natural habitat.

In a video posted on social media, the shark does not appear to be moving; however, once the young man removed the line, the shark began thrashing around.

“It was a necessary act of humanity.”

Fan, a passionate fisherman for five years, had hoped he might have caught a fox shark, which is legal to fish for, but he didn’t expect to end up with a great white shark on the end of his line.

“I wasn’t intentionally fishing for white sharks because I know the rules of California law, you’re not allowed to fish for them at all. When I saw the great white, my mind just reacted, and I tried to release him as fast as I could.”

“It was a little scary, because I had never met a great white shark before, and its teeth were a little intimidating,” he admitted.

“After I released him, he swam away with great power, and I was very happy,” said Fan, who, once the shark was released, celebrated by raising his fists in the air as a sign of victory, while spectators from the pier cheered him on.

“When he swam away, everyone on the pier applauded. It was a very necessary moment of humanity.”