No, Jake Koehler did not pass away in shark attack; the viral video is AI-generated

A viral video falsely claims YouTuber Jake Koehler (Dallymd) was killed by a shark off Florida's coast; but it’s a hoax—the footage is AI-generated.

A video has gone viral on social media, purportedly showing Jake Koehler, the underwater YouTuber who goes by the name DALLYMD, being attacked by a shark. Some posts claimed that Koehler was killed in the attack, which supposedly took place off the coast in Florida.

YouTuber Jake Koehler and screengrab from the viral video. (Scuba Jack on X)

However, it is a hoax, and Jake Koehler was not killed in a shark attack. The viral video of shark attack is AI-generated.

Here's the viral video:

The video originated over the last two weeks on what appeared to be a San Francisco 49ers fan account, named 49ers Empire. It went viral on social media and fellow influencer Ocean Ramsey reportedly also paid tribute to ‘Scuba Jake.’

Is the video real? Truth behind Jake Koehler's death video

The video appears to be evidently morphed by AI, where Koehler can be seen in one of his scuba diving adventures. The emergence of the shark and its subsequent attack on the individual has clear evidence of being reimagined using Artificial Intelligence.

Additionally, no reports or official sources have confirmed the death of Koehler, such as the police, hospital, or his family members. As a result, the video and the claim have all the elements of a deliberately spread hoax to mislead his fans.

Koehler is hugely popular on social media due to his underwater exploration videos. He is known for recovering lost items like phones, jewelry, and GoPros from rivers and lakes, often returning them to their owners.

Earlier this year, on February 27, he was in a serious accident in which he broke his shoulder, tore muscles and tendons, and required 13 screws and a metal plate in his arm.