Tuesday, June 21, 2005

FATAL - 4 June 2005, Cape Town, South Africa - spearfisherman attacked

Spearfisherman, Henri Murray, 22, was fatally attacked by a large Great White shark 200-300 metres off Miller's Point near Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.

His friend Piet Van Niekerk, 23, who was diving with Murray managed to get out of the water safely after shooting the shark with his speargun.

Police divers conducted and extensive search for the body, but found only found on floatation buoy that is normally attached to the speargun, the speargun, a flipper, a mask, a snorkel and parts of a weight belt belonging to Murray.

An eyewitness was quoted as saying: "It was incredibly fast. The two spearfishermen were about 100m from the beach. Suddenly a huge shark surged from under the water taking the one diver up to his arms in its jaws. It must have been massive to have done that. Then the shark and the man just vanished."

According to South African Sharks Board statistics, there have been over 70 attacks in Cape waters since 1990, of which eight have been fatal.

In March British tourist Chris Sullivan, 32, was attacked by a Great White shark at Noordhoek. He had to undergo four hours of surgery to his right leg and foot.

In November 2004 Tyna Webb, 77,was killed by a Great White off Jagger Walk on the Fish Hoek coast. Only her red swimming cap was found after the attack.

In June 2004 Nkosinathi Mayaba, 21, a diver from Gansbaai, was fatally attacked off Pearly Beach on the Cape south coast.

In April 2004 surfer JP Andrews lost his lower leg to a Great White at Muizenberg.

In September 2003 a huge Great White killed bodyboarder David Bornman, 19, of Newlands at a popular surf break off Noordhoek beach.

In December 2002 diver Craig Bovim was injured in an attack by a Great White off Scarborough.


IOL report: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=14&art_id=qw111795804177B262

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