Australia is inhabited almost exclusively by things designed to kill you, like the saltwater crocodile, the Sydney funnel web spider and sharks.

It’s not surprising, then, that it’s also the country where they’re developing the first ‘shark-proof’ wetsuit.

Really, it’s more of a shark-bite resistant wetsuit, but still good news.

Researchers at Flinders University in Australia are developing a wetsuit that they hope will save lives in the event of a shark attack, reports Surfer Today.

“The majority of fatalities from shark bites is due to blood loss or the shock resulting from blood loss,” notes Charlie Huveneers, associate professor at Flinders University.

It is estimated that a great white shark’s bite force is of 4,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). A human bite exerts between 150 and 200 PSI.

A great white shark has approximately 50 razor-sharp teeth which can easily break bones, but the new suit hopes to prevent tear lacerations.

The major cause of death in a shark attack is blood loss. The suit will prevent the teeth from penetrating the skin, so while you might suffer a few internal injuries, you’re less likely to bleed to death.

The new material used in the protective suit will also be heat-resistant and will feature robust synthetic fiber typically used for stab and bullet resistant body armors.

While shark attacks aren’t very common, it’s always good idea to keep safe in the water.

This woman who dives with massive sharks should probably be their first customer once the suit is developed.

Scientists will now test the new wetsuit off the coast of Spencer Gulf with sharks in their natural environment.

Interested? Cape Talk spoke with Charlie Huveneers, Head of the Southern Shark Ecology Group (SSEG) research lab at Flinders University, about the suit.

You can listen here:

[source:surfertoday]