New Zealand’s TV3 reports that New Zealander Sam Judd, 24, was bitten on the leg while surfing at San Cristobal Island, Galapagos islands, on Friday, 21 December 2007.
The report said he managed to punch the shark away from him and two friends surfing with him dragged him to shore.
He received 23 stitches to the leg wound.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
TV3
Stuff.co.za
Monday, December 24, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
SCARED – 9 December 2007 – Meatworks, Kaikoura, New Zealand – surfer attacked
Olivia Hislop was unhurt after a shark tugged on her board while she was surifing at Meatworks surfspot at Kaikoura, New Zealand. The incident happened on Sunday 9 December 2007.
She told media she felt a tug on her board and thought it was a friend fooling around. She turned around to find shark ‘half on top of her board'.
She pulled her board away and when the shark slid off it whacked her on the head with its tail.
"That's when everyone said it was quite a big one because they could see the size of its tail," the New Zealand Herald quoted her as saying.
"After it happened, I was a bit dazed and everyone was freaking out."
The shark then returned and bit through her leash and banged against her bare feet as she was about to catch a wave.
She said she wouldn’t be surfing at Meatworks for a while!
Sources:
New Zealand Herald
She told media she felt a tug on her board and thought it was a friend fooling around. She turned around to find shark ‘half on top of her board'.
She pulled her board away and when the shark slid off it whacked her on the head with its tail.
"That's when everyone said it was quite a big one because they could see the size of its tail," the New Zealand Herald quoted her as saying.
"After it happened, I was a bit dazed and everyone was freaking out."
The shark then returned and bit through her leash and banged against her bare feet as she was about to catch a wave.
She said she wouldn’t be surfing at Meatworks for a while!
Sources:
New Zealand Herald
Sunday, November 25, 2007
INJURED – 18 November 2007 – Wickham, West Australia, fisherman attacked
A man (name not reported) was bitten on the finger by a reef shark he was trying to untangle from a fishing net in a tidal creek about five kilometres from Wickham in the Pilbara region, northern Western Australia.
The incident occurred on Sunday 18 November 2007.
The man was taken to the nearby Roebourne Hospital, where he received eight stitches.
Sources:
The West Australian
The incident occurred on Sunday 18 November 2007.
The man was taken to the nearby Roebourne Hospital, where he received eight stitches.
Sources:
The West Australian
INJURED – 7 November 2007 – Strand beach, Cape Town, South Africa – surfer attacked
Andrew Smith, 14, was attacked by an unidentified shark while surfing with friends at “the Pipe” on Strand beach, False Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. The incident occurred at around 6.30pm Wednesday 7 November 2007.
The shark bit both of his feet and tried to pull him under. Andrew managed to kick free.
"I went into the water with a friend and 14 minutes later it happened. I was lying on my board when something grabbed me from behind. I kicked and the shark let go of me, but then it took my board and pulled it under the water. A little while later it popped back to the surface," he told media.
He says he saw the blue-grey coloured shark which was about two metres long and all he could think about was getting away.
"Everybody rushed to get out of the water, except this one guy who came to help me. I got onto his back and he swam back to the beach."
Gavin Bingham, a doctor who happened to be on the scene, rushed Andrew to the Vergelegen Medi-Clinic where he was treated for lacerations to his feet and lower legs and a severed tendon.
Sources:
News 24.com
The shark bit both of his feet and tried to pull him under. Andrew managed to kick free.
"I went into the water with a friend and 14 minutes later it happened. I was lying on my board when something grabbed me from behind. I kicked and the shark let go of me, but then it took my board and pulled it under the water. A little while later it popped back to the surface," he told media.
He says he saw the blue-grey coloured shark which was about two metres long and all he could think about was getting away.
"Everybody rushed to get out of the water, except this one guy who came to help me. I got onto his back and he swam back to the beach."
Gavin Bingham, a doctor who happened to be on the scene, rushed Andrew to the Vergelegen Medi-Clinic where he was treated for lacerations to his feet and lower legs and a severed tendon.
Sources:
News 24.com
INJURED – 29 October 2007 - Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii - swimmer attacked
Aaron Finley, 32, was bitten on his left leg while swimming 30 metres offshore of the beach fronting the Four Seasons Resort at Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii. The incident occurred at around 3.30pm on Monday 29 October 2007.
“It was like a hard bump,” Finley told media. He said after feeling the bump on his leg, he saw a gray body in the water below as it turned and swam away, and realised it was a shark.
“I was worried he would come back for me,” Finley said.
Not wanting to cause a scene, he said he began to swim in on his own and only yelled for help when he was about 20 metres from shore. Two men jumped in to help him.
The bite to his left leg stretched from the front of the lower leg halfway around the calf. There was another puncture wound above his left knee. The bite went deep enough to cause a chipped bone in the leg.
He was treated at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Sources:
The Maui News
“It was like a hard bump,” Finley told media. He said after feeling the bump on his leg, he saw a gray body in the water below as it turned and swam away, and realised it was a shark.
“I was worried he would come back for me,” Finley said.
Not wanting to cause a scene, he said he began to swim in on his own and only yelled for help when he was about 20 metres from shore. Two men jumped in to help him.
The bite to his left leg stretched from the front of the lower leg halfway around the calf. There was another puncture wound above his left knee. The bite went deep enough to cause a chipped bone in the leg.
He was treated at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Sources:
The Maui News
Photo source:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
INJURED -- 15 October 2007 -- The Pass, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia -- surf skier attacked
Linda Whitehurst, 52, was attacked by a 2.5 metre Great White shark while paddling a surf ski about 150 metres from shore at The Pass, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
The attack occurred at around 11.30am on Monday 15 October 2007.
Whitehurst and her husband were paddling separate skis when the shark bit the back of her ski knocking her into the water. She punched the shark several times with her paddle until it swam away.
Her husband was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying: “[The shark] literally lifted itself in the back of Linda's boat ... and had the back of the boat in its mouth and gave it a shake.”
After the shark swam off Whitehurst managed to make it back to shore and went to Byron Bay Hospital where she received a few stitches for a small wound in her arm.
Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
The attack occurred at around 11.30am on Monday 15 October 2007.
Whitehurst and her husband were paddling separate skis when the shark bit the back of her ski knocking her into the water. She punched the shark several times with her paddle until it swam away.
Her husband was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying: “[The shark] literally lifted itself in the back of Linda's boat ... and had the back of the boat in its mouth and gave it a shake.”
After the shark swam off Whitehurst managed to make it back to shore and went to Byron Bay Hospital where she received a few stitches for a small wound in her arm.
Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
INJURED -- 13 October 2007 -- Holmes Reef, off Cairns, Australia -- spearfisher attacked
A 31-year-old man (not named) was attacked by a shark while spearfishing at Holmes Reef about 240km offshore of Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia. The incident happened just before noon on Saturday, 13 October 2007.
According to a report on News.com.au the shark attacked from behind, biting the back of the man's leg and tearing into his calf muscle.
An ambulance officer was quoted as saying: "It was a pretty deep, long tear.
"His tendons and muscles were exposed. The tear was about 30cm long."
The man was one of about 20 people on a charter boat specialising in spearfishing.
A helicopter rescue crew winched him from the boat and flew him to Cairns Base Hospital where he was reported in “good spirits”.
Helicopter pilot Chris Maehl told media "he was all bandaged up by the time we got there and was pretty stable, in good spirits considering”.
Sources:
News.com.au
According to a report on News.com.au the shark attacked from behind, biting the back of the man's leg and tearing into his calf muscle.
An ambulance officer was quoted as saying: "It was a pretty deep, long tear.
"His tendons and muscles were exposed. The tear was about 30cm long."
The man was one of about 20 people on a charter boat specialising in spearfishing.
A helicopter rescue crew winched him from the boat and flew him to Cairns Base Hospital where he was reported in “good spirits”.
Helicopter pilot Chris Maehl told media "he was all bandaged up by the time we got there and was pretty stable, in good spirits considering”.
Sources:
News.com.au
Monday, October 01, 2007
FATAL -- 30 September 2007 -- Lifou, Loyalty Islands, French New Caledonia -- swimmer attacked
A brief report out of remote Pacific archipelago French New Caledonia says a 23-year-old French woman died of her wounds after she was bitten by a shark while swimming with a friend 200 metres off a beach on Lifou island, part of the Loyalty Islands group.
“She bled to death
after suffering
a deep shark bite from knee to hip,” according to the report in the Daily Telegraph.
Her friend managed to swim ashore to ask local tribesmen for help, but they were too late.
The victim, whose name as not released, was a nurse from mainland France who had just finished a hospital contract in Noumea. She was in Lifou for a short beach holiday before flying home.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
“She bled to death
after sufferinga deep shark bite from knee to hip,” according to the report in the Daily Telegraph.
Her friend managed to swim ashore to ask local tribesmen for help, but they were too late.
The victim, whose name as not released, was a nurse from mainland France who had just finished a hospital contract in Noumea. She was in Lifou for a short beach holiday before flying home.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Photos:
Top: A beach on Lifou island
Bottom: Lifou island from space
Sources:
PIC source:
SCARED -- 28 September 2007 -- Humbolt County, Northern California, USA -- surfer attacked
Sue Snyder (no age reported) escaped injury when a shark attacked the board she was surfing at a beach in Humbolt County, Northern California, USA. The incident occurred on Friday 28 September 2007.
Witnesses say Sue Snyder was sitting on her surfboard when a Great White shark knocked her off from behind.
According to the report she began kicking the shark, which left a 40 cm bite on her board. The shark also left teeth fragments behind.
Researchers say the shark was likely 14 to 15 feet long.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
KTVU
Witnesses say Sue Snyder was sitting on her surfboard when a Great White shark knocked her off from behind.
According to the report she began kicking the shark, which left a 40 cm bite on her board. The shark also left teeth fragments behind.
Researchers say the shark was likely 14 to 15 feet long.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
KTVU
PIC source:
KTVU
KTVU
Sunday, September 23, 2007
INJURED – 22 September 2007 – Huguenot Park, Florida, USA – surfer attacked
A very brief media report says a woman surfer (not named) suffered minor injuries when she was bitten on the foot by a shark while surfing at Huguenot Park, Florida, USA.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, 22 September 2007.
She was taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Jacksonville.com
First Coast News
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, 22 September 2007.
She was taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Jacksonville.com
First Coast News
Thursday, September 20, 2007
SCARED -- 16 September 2007 -- Flagler Beach, Florida, USA -- surfer attacked
Teenager Jessica Riley was surfing alone at Flagler Beach, Florida, USA when she was attacked by what is believed to be 9 foot Bull shark. She narrowly escaped injury when the shark took a huge bite out of her board.
She told Florida’s WFTV that she was lying on her board and heard a splash. She said something told her to raise her right hand out of the water just before the shark came up underneath the board, emerged from the water and bit into the board about half way down its length.
“The whole thing was like out of Jaws,” she said, “where you see the eyeballs and then they turn white and the teeth they were, like, crooked.”
“As soon as it bit the board I fell in onto the shark,” she said.
“The shark started to thrash and then I heard a popping sound and I thought ‘Oh no have a I lost a leg or an arm’?”
She realised later the popping sound was the chunk of board breaking off in the shark’s mouth.
She said it was crazy. There were so many thoughts going through her mind.
“I started to kick and kneed the shark right under its mouth. My finger found its eyeball and it went in. And as soon as I realised it was his eyeball, I shoved it in more.”
She said the shark released the board, but caught her leash as it swam off pulling her under. She undid the ankle strap, swam to the surface, scrambled back onto her board and paddled for shore.
She said she called for help, but no one heard.
She told Florida’s WFTV that she was lying on her board and heard a splash. She said something told her to raise her right hand out of the water just before the shark came up underneath the board, emerged from the water and bit into the board about half way down its length.
“The whole thing was like out of Jaws,” she said, “where you see the eyeballs and then they turn white and the teeth they were, like, crooked.”
“As soon as it bit the board I fell in onto the shark,” she said.
“The shark started to thrash and then I heard a popping sound and I thought ‘Oh no have a I lost a leg or an arm’?”
She realised later the popping sound was the chunk of board breaking off in the shark’s mouth.
She said it was crazy. There were so many thoughts going through her mind.
“I started to kick and kneed the shark right under its mouth. My finger found its eyeball and it went in. And as soon as I realised it was his eyeball, I shoved it in more.”
She said the shark released the board, but caught her leash as it swam off pulling her under. She undid the ankle strap, swam to the surface, scrambled back onto her board and paddled for shore.
She said she called for help, but no one heard.
She collected her things from the beach put her board in her truck and drove to a friend’s house. They called 911. When they came round they didn’t believe her story until they saw her board.
She said at the time of the report - three days after the attack - she had had very little sleep because she had been having nightmares about the attack.
Jessie believes someone was looking out for her as has a cross on her board and was wearing a cross that day which she doesn’t normally do.
“Someone told me to lift my arm out the water just before the shark emerged and bit the board.”
Sources:
WFTV
“Someone told me to lift my arm out the water just before the shark emerged and bit the board.”
Sources:
WFTV
The raw video interview is good.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
INJURED – 17 September 2007 – Gizo, Western Province, Solomon Islands – spearfisher attacked
Corey Howell (no age reported) was spearfishing near Gizo, Western Province in the Solomon Islands when a shark attacked and took three bites from his left thigh before swimming away, according to a brief report in the Solomon Star newspaper.
The incident occurred on Monday 17 September 2007.
It was believed the shark was lured by the fish he had caught.
Howell was airlifted to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, the capital, on 18 September where he underwent surgery to “clean the rugged wound”.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Solomon Star
The incident occurred on Monday 17 September 2007.
It was believed the shark was lured by the fish he had caught.
Howell was airlifted to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, the capital, on 18 September where he underwent surgery to “clean the rugged wound”.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Solomon Star
Monday, September 17, 2007
INJURED – 16 September 2007 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA – wader attacked
Central Florida News 13 reported this incident in brief: a 56-year-old man was in waist deep water when he was bitten on the right heel. The man was not named. He was treated on the beach and went home.
The incident took place around 11.15am on Sunday 16 September 2007 near the jetty at New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA.
Sources:
Central Florida News 13
The incident took place around 11.15am on Sunday 16 September 2007 near the jetty at New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA.
Sources:
Central Florida News 13
INJURED – 13 September 2007 – Anglin's Fishing Pier, Broward Country, Florida, USA – swimmer attacked
A brief report lacking much detail and rather odd story says Brandon Chapman, 14, was bitten by 3-4 foot shark which attached itself to his belly. Fire rescue crew who were called to the scene. They waded into 3 feet of water where Brandon was holding the shark still attached to his abdomen. They punched the shark on the nose to make it release its grip. Brandon was treated at hospital and released.
The incident took place on Thursday, 13 September 2007 at around 4pm near Anglin's Fishing Pier, Broward Country, Florida, USA.
Sources:
Yahoo News
The incident took place on Thursday, 13 September 2007 at around 4pm near Anglin's Fishing Pier, Broward Country, Florida, USA.
Sources:
Yahoo News
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
INJURED – 8 September 2007 – Pepper Park beach, Florida, United States – wader attacked
Carolyn Griffin, 58, was bitten on the leg by a shark while wading offshore of Pepper Park, Florida, US on Saturday 8 September 2007. She received 12 tooth punctures to the front of her leg and a 5cm deep gash on her calf muscle.
According to media the lifeguard said the wounds were consistent with a 4 foot Bull shark.
Griffin said she had just waded into the water when she felt a bump on her leg. At first she thought it was a boogie board — until she saw a fin swimming away.
She went to the lifeguard who wrapped her wound. She was taken by ambulance to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute where she received stitches and staples to the gash. Her wounds were minor and she was expected to be OK.
No other details were reported.
Sources
TYPalm
WPBF TV
According to media the lifeguard said the wounds were consistent with a 4 foot Bull shark.
Griffin said she had just waded into the water when she felt a bump on her leg. At first she thought it was a boogie board — until she saw a fin swimming away.
She went to the lifeguard who wrapped her wound. She was taken by ambulance to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute where she received stitches and staples to the gash. Her wounds were minor and she was expected to be OK.
No other details were reported.
Sources
TYPalm
WPBF TV
Sunday, September 09, 2007
INJURED -- 6 September 2007 -- Daytona Beach, Florida, United States -- wader attacked
A brief report says a 24-year-old woman (not named) was bitten on the toe by a shark while wading in shallow water off Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. Her injuries were not serious.
The incident took place on Thursday 6 September 2007.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Local6.com
The incident took place on Thursday 6 September 2007.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Local6.com
Thursday, September 06, 2007
INJURED -- 4 September 2007 -- Sullivan’s island, South Carolina, US -- surfer attacked
A very brief report says Rory Corr, 15, was bitten on both legs by a shark while surfing off Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, US. The incident took place Tuesday 4 September 2007.
He told Live 5 TV news from his hospital that he did not see the shark. After it bit him he grabbed the back of the surfboard of a friend who paddled him to shore. When he was in knee deep water his friend ran to a telephone and he crawled out the water and onto the beach. A woman on the beach used her shirt to wrap his calf to stem the bleeding.
No other details were reported except that he required a number of stitches for the wounds.
Live 5 News
He told Live 5 TV news from his hospital that he did not see the shark. After it bit him he grabbed the back of the surfboard of a friend who paddled him to shore. When he was in knee deep water his friend ran to a telephone and he crawled out the water and onto the beach. A woman on the beach used her shirt to wrap his calf to stem the bleeding.
No other details were reported except that he required a number of stitches for the wounds.
Live 5 News
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
INJURED -- 3 September 2007 -- Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, US – swimmer attacked
Domingo Laciofano, 58, claims he was bitten by shark on the arm while swimming off Fort Lauderdale Beach, -- 14-hundred block of Ocean Drive -- Florida, in the US. He received an 8 centimetre laceration in his left arm.
The incident took place Monday morning 3 September 2007.
Guido Garlaschi who saw the attack told media: "The man started screaming. He was retrieved from the water. The man was in pain and had a small laceration on his left arm.”
Laciofano was taken to Broward General Medical Center where he received 100 stitches and underwent minor surgery. He was expetced to be fine.
Beachgoers speculated it could be a small Spinner shark.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
CBS4
The incident took place Monday morning 3 September 2007.
Guido Garlaschi who saw the attack told media: "The man started screaming. He was retrieved from the water. The man was in pain and had a small laceration on his left arm.”
Laciofano was taken to Broward General Medical Center where he received 100 stitches and underwent minor surgery. He was expetced to be fine.
Beachgoers speculated it could be a small Spinner shark.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
CBS4
INJURED -- 3 September 2007 -- Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida, US -- swimmer attacked
A 12-year-old girl (name not released) received minor injuries to her arm when she was bitten by a shark while swimming off Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida, United States. The incident occurred Monday 3 September 2007 – Labour Day in the US with crowds of people on the beach and in the water.
Witnesses said the girl was standing in waist deep water at the time of the attack.
Local media reports said she came ashore with a bleeding arm. Authorities said she had about a dozen puncture wounds. Her arm was bandaged at the beach.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Central Florida News 13
WFTV
Witnesses said the girl was standing in waist deep water at the time of the attack.
Local media reports said she came ashore with a bleeding arm. Authorities said she had about a dozen puncture wounds. Her arm was bandaged at the beach.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Central Florida News 13
WFTV
Thursday, August 30, 2007
INJURED -- 28 August 2007 -- Ka'a'awa, Oahu, Hawaii -- bodysurfer attacked
A 15-year-old boy (name not released) was bitten on the foot while bodysurfing at Ka'a'awa, Oahu, Hawaii on Tuesday 28 August 2007.
The boy says it was a 12 foot Tiger shark that bit him.
According to a report in the Honolulu Advertiser the boy was 400 metres offshore when he felt something "slice" at his foot before seeing his foot in the mouth of a shark. The boy kicked the shark with his other foot and it swam away. He suffered only minor lacerations to his foot.
The boy was treated for injuries at a nearby fire station before his parents took him to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center for further examination.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
The boy says it was a 12 foot Tiger shark that bit him.
According to a report in the Honolulu Advertiser the boy was 400 metres offshore when he felt something "slice" at his foot before seeing his foot in the mouth of a shark. The boy kicked the shark with his other foot and it swam away. He suffered only minor lacerations to his foot.
The boy was treated for injuries at a nearby fire station before his parents took him to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center for further examination.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
INJURED -- 28 August 2007 -- Marina State Beach, Monterey Bay, California, USA -- surfer attacked
Todd Endris, 24, was attacked by a shark while surfing at Marina State Beach, Monterey Bay, California, USA. He suffered bite wounds to his torso and right thigh. The incident took place around 10.30am on Tuesday, 28 August 2007.
He was surfing with around six others surfers at a local beach break when the attack happened.
One of the surfers in the water at the time, Joe Jansen, told the Mercury News he first heard a scream and immediately saw a pod of dolphins swim by and a huge splash. Then he saw the Great White shark on top of Endris, pulling him under water.
He was surfing with around six others surfers at a local beach break when the attack happened.
One of the surfers in the water at the time, Joe Jansen, told the Mercury News he first heard a scream and immediately saw a pod of dolphins swim by and a huge splash. Then he saw the Great White shark on top of Endris, pulling him under water.
Endris resurfaced seconds later, blood "gushing" from gashes in his back. Jansen then pulled the 24-year-old San Jose native back onto Endris' surfboard and towed him toward the shore.
"He must have been in shock because he said he didn't feel any pain," Jansen told the newspaper. "He was talking to us, answering questions."
Other reports describe Todd punching the shark to make it release its grip. Some witness reports say the shark pulled him underwater, let him go and then bit him again when he resurfaced.
Witness reports about size of the shark vary. They all say it was a Great White, but some say it was 20 foot, some say 15 foot and Marine biologist Robert Lea says it was probably between 12 and 13 foot – nonetheless a large shark.
Reports say surfers pulled him to shore and administered first aid with the surfboard leash as tourniquet and towels to stem the bleeding until an ambulance arrived.
One witness reports Endris riding a wave back to the beach with “the white water behind him all red”.
Endris was taken by ambulance to the Marina Municipal Airport and was airlifted to Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where he underwent surgery and was reported in a stable condition.
Sources:
Mercury News
PIC Source:
Mercury News
Mercury News
Monday, August 27, 2007
INJURED – 25 August 2007 – Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States – surfer attacked
Joe Coursey was bitten on his left hand while surfing near the Jetties at Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States. The incident happened on Satuday morning 26 August 2007.
Coursey’s daughter, Sarah Coursey, told media: “He said it didn’t hurt. It happened so quickly. He just looked down and there was a shark on his hand.”
Sarah Coursey was with her father in the water when he was attacked. She said her father managed to bandage his own hand and flag down help before she knew what happened.
Joe Coursey had surgery to lacerations on his hand at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
Initial reports said the man attacked claimed the shark was 6 foot long.
Sources:
WFTV
Coursey’s daughter, Sarah Coursey, told media: “He said it didn’t hurt. It happened so quickly. He just looked down and there was a shark on his hand.”
Sarah Coursey was with her father in the water when he was attacked. She said her father managed to bandage his own hand and flag down help before she knew what happened.
Joe Coursey had surgery to lacerations on his hand at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
Initial reports said the man attacked claimed the shark was 6 foot long.
Sources:
WFTV
PIC source:
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
INJURED – 19 August 2007 – Islamorada, Florida Keys, United States – swimmer attacked
In a few sketchy media reports -- Chris Olstad, 52, was reported bitten on the side of his torso by a shark while swimming his regular swimming route from Founders Park (Islamorada, Florida Keys, United States) to a sail boat about a half a mile offshore. Olstad was swimming at night around 9.15pm and on his way back when the shark bit him. He suffered extensive wounds to the side of his torso.
The incident took place on Sunday night 19 August 2007.
He managed to get back to shore and walked 100 metres to a county sheriff’s department, passing out three times along the way and sustaining cuts and bruises to his head. From the sheriff’s department substation he was taken by ambulance to nearby Mariner's Hospital and later airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.
Olstad later told the Miami Herald he believed it was a shark.
''I felt a bump and a shake and felt the head of an animal,'' he said.
He said when he got back to shore, no one was a around. As he walked along the beach toward the sheriff's Islamorada substation, located at the entrance to Founder's Park, he passed out three times.
Sgt. Tom Kiffney, who spoke with Olstad at Mariner's Hospital, said the man's wounds were extensive, from under his arm to his waist, with a large chunk of his flesh missing.
Olstad said he’d been swimming there for eight years. “This is a pretty rare event,” he said.
Sources:
Miami Herald
Orlando Sentinel
Local10
The incident took place on Sunday night 19 August 2007.
He managed to get back to shore and walked 100 metres to a county sheriff’s department, passing out three times along the way and sustaining cuts and bruises to his head. From the sheriff’s department substation he was taken by ambulance to nearby Mariner's Hospital and later airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.
Olstad later told the Miami Herald he believed it was a shark.
''I felt a bump and a shake and felt the head of an animal,'' he said.
He said when he got back to shore, no one was a around. As he walked along the beach toward the sheriff's Islamorada substation, located at the entrance to Founder's Park, he passed out three times.
Sgt. Tom Kiffney, who spoke with Olstad at Mariner's Hospital, said the man's wounds were extensive, from under his arm to his waist, with a large chunk of his flesh missing.
Olstad said he’d been swimming there for eight years. “This is a pretty rare event,” he said.
Sources:
Miami Herald
Orlando Sentinel
Local10
Monday, August 20, 2007
INJURED – 19 August 2007 – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States – swimmer attacked
A 7-year-old boy (name not released) was bitten in the leg by a shark while swimming just south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, US on Sunday, 19 August 2007.
The boy was playing in waist-deep water when the shark attacked him.
Bystanders stemmed the bleeding before medics arrived. He underwent emergency surgery to his calf at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. The injury was not life-threatening and the boy suffered no tissue loss according to media reports.
No other details were reported.
Source:
WRAL.com
The boy was playing in waist-deep water when the shark attacked him.
Bystanders stemmed the bleeding before medics arrived. He underwent emergency surgery to his calf at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. The injury was not life-threatening and the boy suffered no tissue loss according to media reports.
No other details were reported.
Source:
WRAL.com
Sunday, August 19, 2007
INJURED – 15 August 2007 – Sarasota Bay, Florida, United States – swimmer attacked
Andrea Lynch, 20, was attacked by what is presumed a 6 foot bull shark while floating on her back in the sea during a boat trip in Sarasota Bay, Florida, US. The incident took place on Wednesday night 15 August 2007.
Lynch was bitten on the side of her torso. She said the shark bit her, shook her and let go. She received 17 puncture wounds requiring more than 100 stitches.
Lynch and three friends had rowed out in an inflatable boat to a larger boat anchored 200 metres offshore. They wanted to swim in the bioluminescence which was glowing that night. Lynch and a friend jumped into the water.
One friend was swimming with Lynch when she screamed, and two were standing in the boat. When she pulled herself out of the water, the friends planned to go back to shore. But in the chaos, the inflatable dinghy floated away. Nobody wanted to jump back in the water to bring it back. They had no way back to shore.
"It was like a horror movie," Lynch said.
"I got on the boat and my friend was like, 'Do I need to call 911?'", she told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune newspaper.
"I reached back with my hand and felt all these gashes on me, and there was blood running down my body and pooling in the boat," she added.
Her friends staunched the bleeding by pressing shirts against the wounds.
They called 911 and 20 minutes later a rescue boat picked them up. Lynch was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Doctors said the shark's teeth got close to her lungs during the attack, but missed all major organs.
Sources:
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
BBC News
PIC source:
Metro UK
Lynch was bitten on the side of her torso. She said the shark bit her, shook her and let go. She received 17 puncture wounds requiring more than 100 stitches.
Lynch and three friends had rowed out in an inflatable boat to a larger boat anchored 200 metres offshore. They wanted to swim in the bioluminescence which was glowing that night. Lynch and a friend jumped into the water.
One friend was swimming with Lynch when she screamed, and two were standing in the boat. When she pulled herself out of the water, the friends planned to go back to shore. But in the chaos, the inflatable dinghy floated away. Nobody wanted to jump back in the water to bring it back. They had no way back to shore.
"It was like a horror movie," Lynch said.
"I got on the boat and my friend was like, 'Do I need to call 911?'", she told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune newspaper.
"I reached back with my hand and felt all these gashes on me, and there was blood running down my body and pooling in the boat," she added.
Her friends staunched the bleeding by pressing shirts against the wounds.
They called 911 and 20 minutes later a rescue boat picked them up. Lynch was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Doctors said the shark's teeth got close to her lungs during the attack, but missed all major organs.
Sources:
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
BBC News
PIC source:
Metro UK
Thursday, August 16, 2007
INJURED -- 14 August 2007 -- Florida Keys, United States -- swimmer attacked
Ashley Silverman, 19, suffered severe lacerations to her right arm after being attacked by a shark soon after she jumped from a boat into waters off the Florida Keys, US. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon, 14 August 2007.
In an interview with CBS4 she explained she was in the water when suddenly she felt a tug on her right arm. "I didn't see it. I didn't know what happened. I didn't know if I had gotten hit from a propeller or a boat or what it was." She said she saw blood in the water. "I saw my bone and pieces of flesh in the water."
Her boyfriend jumped in the water and pulled her out.
She was originally taken to Mariner's Hospital and then airlifted to Kendall hospital, where she underwent surgery to close an eight-inch gash on her right arm.
The doctor who performed the surgery said the wound may have been caused by a bull shark.
Sources:
UPI
CBS4
In an interview with CBS4 she explained she was in the water when suddenly she felt a tug on her right arm. "I didn't see it. I didn't know what happened. I didn't know if I had gotten hit from a propeller or a boat or what it was." She said she saw blood in the water. "I saw my bone and pieces of flesh in the water."
Her boyfriend jumped in the water and pulled her out.
She was originally taken to Mariner's Hospital and then airlifted to Kendall hospital, where she underwent surgery to close an eight-inch gash on her right arm.
The doctor who performed the surgery said the wound may have been caused by a bull shark.
Sources:
UPI
CBS4
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
INJURED -- 26 July 2007 -- New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA -- surfer attacked
Jeffrey Clark, 51, was paddling out near the jetty at Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA at around 5.30pm when he “collided in a wave” with a 3-4 foot black tip or spinner shark. Clark suffered minor lacerations to his shoulder and didn’t require medical treatment.
According to media reports Clark had been surfing the region for 45 years and this was the first time had been bitten by a shark.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
News Journal
According to media reports Clark had been surfing the region for 45 years and this was the first time had been bitten by a shark.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
News Journal
Sunday, July 22, 2007
INJURED -- 21 July 2007 -- Cocos Islands -- snorkeller attacked
Angus Chapman, 15, was attacked by a bronze whaler shark while swimming off the Cocos Islands on Saturday 21 July 2007. He was biiten on the leg three times and suffered severe lacerations and tendon and muscle damage.
He punched the shark on the snout and it swam away.
Angus said he had just finished snorkeling when the shark attacked. He said he was glad his six-year-old brother, who was swimming next to him, was not harmed during the attack.
"If I didn't punch it, then I would have lost my leg and if it got my brother then he probably would have died, which is a lot worse,'' he told media.
Surgeon Tim Cooper said Angus’s quick thinking helped save his life.
"He told someone to put a tourniquet on his limb, which is the correct thing to do if you've got major vessel injury and I believe if a shark won't let go, you've got to punch it in the face," he said.
No other details were reported.
News.com
ABC News
He punched the shark on the snout and it swam away.
Angus said he had just finished snorkeling when the shark attacked. He said he was glad his six-year-old brother, who was swimming next to him, was not harmed during the attack.
"If I didn't punch it, then I would have lost my leg and if it got my brother then he probably would have died, which is a lot worse,'' he told media.
Surgeon Tim Cooper said Angus’s quick thinking helped save his life.
"He told someone to put a tourniquet on his limb, which is the correct thing to do if you've got major vessel injury and I believe if a shark won't let go, you've got to punch it in the face," he said.
No other details were reported.
News.com
ABC News
INJURED --19 July 2007 -- Bellows Beach, Oahu, Hawaii -- snorkeller attacked
Harvey Miller, 36, was snorkelling 150 metres from shore at Bellows Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, when he was attacked by an 8 foot Tiger shark. The incident, which occurred around 3.30pm on Thursday 19 July 2007, left a 30 centimetre gash in his left knee.
He was helped ashore and taken to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where hospital authorities said he’d lost part of his calf and suffered some cut tendons.
Dr Patrick Murray was quoted as saying the shark damaged several nerves and the knee, leaving a 30 cm gash. He said it was lucky the shark didn’t damage the femoral artery, which would have been life threatening.
Miller told media he was snorkelling looking for turtles when it appeared that the fish looked “spooked”.
The shark “bit me and swung me around.”
“I punched it twice in the body just below dorsal fin,” he said.
The shark let go.
“I then started screaming and yelling ‘Shark!’”
Miller said he just remembers thinking he didn’t want to die this way and saying: “Oh God, not like this, no way.”
At a press briefing he thanked the man who helped him from the water saying he saved his life.
Hawaii state Shark Task Force spokesman Randy Honebrink said bite marks on two turtles found in the area and the wounds on Miller pointed to an 8-foot Tiger shark. He said when they reached 8-feet it was about this age that they switched their diets to include turtles.
Sources:
Honolulu Star Bulletin
The Chronicle Telegram
13abc
He was helped ashore and taken to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where hospital authorities said he’d lost part of his calf and suffered some cut tendons.
Dr Patrick Murray was quoted as saying the shark damaged several nerves and the knee, leaving a 30 cm gash. He said it was lucky the shark didn’t damage the femoral artery, which would have been life threatening.
Miller told media he was snorkelling looking for turtles when it appeared that the fish looked “spooked”.
The shark “bit me and swung me around.”
“I punched it twice in the body just below dorsal fin,” he said.
The shark let go.
“I then started screaming and yelling ‘Shark!’”
Miller said he just remembers thinking he didn’t want to die this way and saying: “Oh God, not like this, no way.”
At a press briefing he thanked the man who helped him from the water saying he saved his life.
Hawaii state Shark Task Force spokesman Randy Honebrink said bite marks on two turtles found in the area and the wounds on Miller pointed to an 8-foot Tiger shark. He said when they reached 8-feet it was about this age that they switched their diets to include turtles.
Sources:
Honolulu Star Bulletin
The Chronicle Telegram
13abc
Thursday, July 19, 2007
INJURED -- 18 July 2007 -- North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, US -- wader attacked
Matthew Baker, 14, was bitten by a shark on the right calf while standing in knee deep water off North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, United States. The incident occurred around 12.30pm on Wednesday, 18 July 2007.
He was treated at Onslow Memorial Hospital.
Doctors treated two 2-inch gashes and a number of puncture wounds between Baker's knee and ankle, according to media reports. He was released from hospital later the same day.
Witnesses report seeing a group a 3 foot Gray sharks approach Matthew and friends he was swimming with.
Matthew said he did not realise it was a shark that had bit him -- thinking it was a friend of his playing with him -- then he heard witnesses screaming “shark” nearby and immediately swam to shore.
Sources
Wilmingtom Star
He was treated at Onslow Memorial Hospital.
Doctors treated two 2-inch gashes and a number of puncture wounds between Baker's knee and ankle, according to media reports. He was released from hospital later the same day.
Witnesses report seeing a group a 3 foot Gray sharks approach Matthew and friends he was swimming with.
Matthew said he did not realise it was a shark that had bit him -- thinking it was a friend of his playing with him -- then he heard witnesses screaming “shark” nearby and immediately swam to shore.
Sources
Wilmingtom Star
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
INJURED – 17 July 2007 – Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, US – wader attacked
A 30-year-old woman (name not released) was bitten on the right thigh and left foot while wading in waist deep water near Tar Landing Villas on Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, United States. The incident took place on Tuesday 17 July 2007.
People on the beach helped her to get out the water. She was treated at Carteret General Hospital and was expected to be released the same day.
The shark bite on her foot left triangular shaped teeth marks, according to the town fire chief.
No other details were reported.
Source:
WRAL
People on the beach helped her to get out the water. She was treated at Carteret General Hospital and was expected to be released the same day.
The shark bite on her foot left triangular shaped teeth marks, according to the town fire chief.
No other details were reported.
Source:
WRAL
Monday, July 09, 2007
INJURED – 5 July 2007 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States – surfer attacked
Chaz Cecil, 18, was bitten on his right foot by an unidentified shark on Thursday afternoon, 5 July 2007. The incident took place while he was surfing at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States.
The injury was minor – he received a few small lacerations to the top of his foot, according to a beach patrol official.
He was admitted to Bert Fish Medical Center and later discharged.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Orlando Sentinel
International Herald Tribune
The injury was minor – he received a few small lacerations to the top of his foot, according to a beach patrol official.
He was admitted to Bert Fish Medical Center and later discharged.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Orlando Sentinel
International Herald Tribune
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
INJURED – 24 June 2007 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, US – surfer attacked
Justin Lewis, 20, was surfing Sunday 24 June 2007 after 5.30pm near the south jetty at New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, US when a shark bit his right hand, leaving 6 to 8 puncture wounds.
Lewis told Volusia County Beach Patrol the shark was about 4 feet long.
Lewis was treated at a hospital and was expected to be OK.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Central Florida News 13
Lewis told Volusia County Beach Patrol the shark was about 4 feet long.
Lewis was treated at a hospital and was expected to be OK.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
Central Florida News 13
SHOCKED -- 24 June 2007 -- Silva's, Mokuleia, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii -- surfer attacked
An unnamed surfer was attacked by a shark while surfing at Silva's, Mokuleia, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii around 7am Sunday, 24 June 2007.
The surfer was uninjured in the attack, but the shark, presumed to be a 6 foot Tiger or Reef shark, to a bite out of his board.
A witness to the attack, George Rio, told media: "When he was paddling out, he felt something grab his board really hard and actually took him under the water. When it came up, it could have bit him, but he put the board towards the shark's mouth instead of going for him, it went for the board," said Rio. As for the victim's reaction, Rio said, "he seemed like he was still in a daze... in shock like he cannot believe that a shark bit his board and could have bitten him."
No other details were reported.
Source:
KGMB9
The surfer was uninjured in the attack, but the shark, presumed to be a 6 foot Tiger or Reef shark, to a bite out of his board.
A witness to the attack, George Rio, told media: "When he was paddling out, he felt something grab his board really hard and actually took him under the water. When it came up, it could have bit him, but he put the board towards the shark's mouth instead of going for him, it went for the board," said Rio. As for the victim's reaction, Rio said, "he seemed like he was still in a daze... in shock like he cannot believe that a shark bit his board and could have bitten him."
No other details were reported.
Source:
KGMB9
Thursday, June 21, 2007
INJURED – 17 June 2007 – Vilano Beach, Florida, United States – surfer attacked
In rather sketchy media reports a nine-year-old girl was apparently attacked by a shark while surfing in the late afternoon on Sunday 17 June 2007.
Reports say the girl (name not released) was attacked around 4.30pm while surfing at Vilano Beach, St Augustine, Florida, US. No details of where she was bitten or how bad the wound was were reported.
One report said she managed to walk to her home nearby before being taken to Flagler Hospital by St. Johns County Fire Rescue.
A report on 19 June in the St Augustine Record says authorities were unsure if it was a shark that bit the girl and say the wound may have been caused by the fin of her surfboard.
“While the shape of the wound could have been made by a shark bite, other expected signs aren't present,” the newspaper reported.
Sources:
St Augustine Record
Reports say the girl (name not released) was attacked around 4.30pm while surfing at Vilano Beach, St Augustine, Florida, US. No details of where she was bitten or how bad the wound was were reported.
One report said she managed to walk to her home nearby before being taken to Flagler Hospital by St. Johns County Fire Rescue.
A report on 19 June in the St Augustine Record says authorities were unsure if it was a shark that bit the girl and say the wound may have been caused by the fin of her surfboard.
“While the shape of the wound could have been made by a shark bite, other expected signs aren't present,” the newspaper reported.
Sources:
St Augustine Record
Sunday, May 27, 2007
INJURED – 26 May 2007 -- Garden City Beach, South Carolina, United States – wader attacked
A woman (name not released) was presumed bitten by a shark at Garden City Beach, South Carolina, United States around 5pm on Saturday 26 May 2007.
She was taken to Waccamaw Community Hospital for treatment of a leg injury, according to media reports.
Witnesses said they heard the woman scream. She was in thigh deep water. When she came out she had three gashes on the bottom half of her leg.
Captain Scott Gosnell of Garden City-Murrells Inlet Fire Department told media that as far as he knew “it was a shark bite to the leg”.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Island Packet
The Myrtle Beach Sun News
She was taken to Waccamaw Community Hospital for treatment of a leg injury, according to media reports.
Witnesses said they heard the woman scream. She was in thigh deep water. When she came out she had three gashes on the bottom half of her leg.
Captain Scott Gosnell of Garden City-Murrells Inlet Fire Department told media that as far as he knew “it was a shark bite to the leg”.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Island Packet
The Myrtle Beach Sun News
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
INJURED – 16 May 2007 -- Warra Beach, near Coral Bay, Western Australia – wader attacked
Early media reports say a woman, 39, (not named) was bitten on the back of her lower left leg by shark while walking in shallow water. She was holding her baby at the time of the attack which occurred around 2.45pm local time.
The attack occurred 16 May 2007 at Warra Beach, near Coral Bay in Western Australia, about a 1,000 km north of Perth.
Her husband was at the scene and drove her towards Coral Bay where they were met by an ambulance.
St John's Ambulance manager Danny Barron told media he was told that there was “significant damage to her calf muscle”.
The woman was first treated at a nursing post at Coral Bay and then taken to Carnarvon hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
No further details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
The West Australian
The attack occurred 16 May 2007 at Warra Beach, near Coral Bay in Western Australia, about a 1,000 km north of Perth.
Her husband was at the scene and drove her towards Coral Bay where they were met by an ambulance.
St John's Ambulance manager Danny Barron told media he was told that there was “significant damage to her calf muscle”.
The woman was first treated at a nursing post at Coral Bay and then taken to Carnarvon hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
No further details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
The West Australian
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
INJURED – 7 May 2007 -- Keawakapu Beach, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii – snorkeller attacked
A 63-year-old woman (name not released) was bitten on right her foot and calf while snorkelling about 30 metres offshore of Keawakapu Beach, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii.
The incident occurred about 8.30am on Monday, 7 May 2007. The size and type of shark was not immediately known, although an hour earlier, a surfer at Kamaole Beach Park II, about a three kilometres away, reported that a possible tiger shark bumped his friend's surfboard, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.
"Her right foot was slashed open - her complete foot on top from one end to the other longways," Amon Aquarian, who was at the scene of the attack, told media.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Sources:
Honolulu Advertiser
Guardian
KGMB9
The incident occurred about 8.30am on Monday, 7 May 2007. The size and type of shark was not immediately known, although an hour earlier, a surfer at Kamaole Beach Park II, about a three kilometres away, reported that a possible tiger shark bumped his friend's surfboard, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.
"Her right foot was slashed open - her complete foot on top from one end to the other longways," Amon Aquarian, who was at the scene of the attack, told media.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Sources:
Honolulu Advertiser
Guardian
KGMB9
INJURED – 7 May 2007 – Naples Beach, Florida, US – swimmer attacked
Hans Pruss, a 68-year-old German tourist, was bitten on the left leg by an unidentified shark while swimming about 100 metres offshore of Naples Beach, Florida, USA.
The incident occurred around 8.30am Monday, 7 May 2007.
Pruss managed to swim back to shore where he noticed a large circular bite beginning above his left knee and extending to his mid-thigh.
According to media reports he walked 150 metres back to his hotel. Hotel staff called 911. He was taken to NCH Naples Downtown Hospital. Emergency workers said the wound was serious but not life threatening.
Bob Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota told media that initial reports that the shark was a 6- to- 8-foot bull shark were doubtful. Bull shark bite wounds tend to be severe or fatal, he said.
He said other sharks in the area at this time of year that are known to have attacked humans included black tips, lemon sharks and hammerheads.
Sources
Naples News
The incident occurred around 8.30am Monday, 7 May 2007.
Pruss managed to swim back to shore where he noticed a large circular bite beginning above his left knee and extending to his mid-thigh.
According to media reports he walked 150 metres back to his hotel. Hotel staff called 911. He was taken to NCH Naples Downtown Hospital. Emergency workers said the wound was serious but not life threatening.
Bob Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota told media that initial reports that the shark was a 6- to- 8-foot bull shark were doubtful. Bull shark bite wounds tend to be severe or fatal, he said.
He said other sharks in the area at this time of year that are known to have attacked humans included black tips, lemon sharks and hammerheads.
Sources
Naples News
Sunday, April 29, 2007
INJURED – 26 April 2007 -- Mornington Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia – swimmer attacked
A brief report in The Sydney Morning Herald and News.com.au says a 13-year-old girl -- Lorraine (second name not reported) -- was bitten by a shark while swimming with friends in waters off Mornington Island, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, on Thursday, 26 April 2007.
According to a witness she was jumping off a jetty with friends when the incident happened. One of the girls who saw the shark said it was small.
Police said the girl was airlifted to Townsville Hospital where she received treatment for injuries to her leg and foot.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
The Sydney Morning Herald
News.com.au
According to a witness she was jumping off a jetty with friends when the incident happened. One of the girls who saw the shark said it was small.
Police said the girl was airlifted to Townsville Hospital where she received treatment for injuries to her leg and foot.
No other details were reported.
Sources:
The Sydney Morning Herald
News.com.au
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
DESCRIBED – Update to 22 April 2007 Hutchinson island shark attack
Matthew Honyak, 12, described the shark attack that took place on Hutchinson island, 22 April 2007. He was bitten on his left ankle by what authorites assume was a small bull shark while body surfing with friends a short distance from the shore.
He described the attack to media.
He said he was still underwater when he saw a shark's mouth and then felt it clamp down on his ankle and yank back.
"I gave it a huge kick," Matthew said. "I was just so scared. I just kicked as hard as I could."
That kick stunned the shark, which let go, he said.
Another wave came and knocked Matthew to shore. He walked out onto the sand, blood gushing from his wound.
"I said, `I got bit by a shark. I got bit by a shark,'" he recalled.
"I was so shocked. I didn't feel any pain."
A lifeguard called paramedics, who took Matthew to the hospital where he received seven stitches to the wound.
Sources:
Sun Sentinel
He described the attack to media.
He said he was still underwater when he saw a shark's mouth and then felt it clamp down on his ankle and yank back.
"I gave it a huge kick," Matthew said. "I was just so scared. I just kicked as hard as I could."
That kick stunned the shark, which let go, he said.
Another wave came and knocked Matthew to shore. He walked out onto the sand, blood gushing from his wound.
"I said, `I got bit by a shark. I got bit by a shark,'" he recalled.
"I was so shocked. I didn't feel any pain."
A lifeguard called paramedics, who took Matthew to the hospital where he received seven stitches to the wound.
Sources:
Sun Sentinel
Monday, April 23, 2007
INJURED – 22 April 2007 – Waveland Beach, Hutchinson Island, Florida, US – body boarder attacked
A 12-year-old boy (name not reported) was bitten on the foot while body boarding about 25 metres from shore at Waveland Beach, Hutchinson Island, Florida, US.
The incident happened at around 12.30pm on Sunday 22 April 2007.
A man who witnessed the attack told media he noticed a “chunk of meat” missing from the boy’s foot. He said the wound appeared to run from the boy’s ankle down to his toes.
Paramedics took the boy to Martin Memorial Health Center for treatment. There was no update on his condition at the time of this blog.
Sources:
TC Palm Local News
The incident happened at around 12.30pm on Sunday 22 April 2007.
A man who witnessed the attack told media he noticed a “chunk of meat” missing from the boy’s foot. He said the wound appeared to run from the boy’s ankle down to his toes.
Paramedics took the boy to Martin Memorial Health Center for treatment. There was no update on his condition at the time of this blog.
Sources:
TC Palm Local News
Sunday, April 22, 2007
INJURED – 20 April 2007 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA – surfer attacked
Chad Guthrie, 24, was bitten on the left hand by a 4 to 5 foot bull shark while surfing Friday evening, 20 April 2007, at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA.
He was taken to Halifax Hospital in Daytona, where he spent 5 hours in surgery Friday night.
His grandmother told media the shark “ripped open his left hand and incurred serious injury to the thumb and first two fingers”.
According to media Guthrie said he planned to continue surfing once his wounds had healed.
Sources:
The News Press
He was taken to Halifax Hospital in Daytona, where he spent 5 hours in surgery Friday night.
His grandmother told media the shark “ripped open his left hand and incurred serious injury to the thumb and first two fingers”.
According to media Guthrie said he planned to continue surfing once his wounds had healed.
Sources:
The News Press
Monday, April 02, 2007
INJURED – 1 April 2007 -- New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States – swimmer attacked
Jack Lomedico, 10, was bitten on his calf while swimming near Flagler Avenue at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States. The attack took place on Sunday, 1 April 2007.
According to media he and his brother were only one metre into the water when the shark attacked. His father Tom Lomedico was able to grab him and pull him out of the water.
He was rushed to hospital where he received 60 stitches to the wound. He was expected to make a full recovery.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
WFTV.com
UPDATE:
Jack Lomedico gives interview with WFTV
According to media he and his brother were only one metre into the water when the shark attacked. His father Tom Lomedico was able to grab him and pull him out of the water.
He was rushed to hospital where he received 60 stitches to the wound. He was expected to make a full recovery.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
WFTV.com
UPDATE:
Jack Lomedico gives interview with WFTV
Sunday, April 01, 2007
INJURED – 31 March 2007 – Hutchinson Island, St Lucie County, Florida, United States – surfer attacked
In the second of two attacks on the same island on the same day, an unnamed 30-year-old surfer was bitten on his right ankle by a shark.
He sustained 7-10 centimetre wounds in the attack which took place around 2.20pm at Normandy Beach, Hutchinson Island, St Lucie County, Florida, United States.
His injuries were serious enough to keep him at Martin Memorial Medical Center, but were not life-threatening.
A fisherman who witnessed the attack said the surfer was no more than 25 metres from the shore when his was bitten by the shark.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Palm Beach Post
He sustained 7-10 centimetre wounds in the attack which took place around 2.20pm at Normandy Beach, Hutchinson Island, St Lucie County, Florida, United States.
His injuries were serious enough to keep him at Martin Memorial Medical Center, but were not life-threatening.
A fisherman who witnessed the attack said the surfer was no more than 25 metres from the shore when his was bitten by the shark.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Palm Beach Post
INJURED – 31 March 2007 – Hutchinson Island, St Lucie County, Florida, United States – swimmer attacked
In the first of two attacks on the same island on the same day, a nine-year-old boy (unnamed) was attacked by a shark and bitten on the right buttock and thigh.
He sustained minor injuries in the attack which took place around 1.20pm on Saturday, 31 March 2007 at Waveland Park on Hutchinson Island, St Lucie County, Florida, United States.
He was treated and released at Martin Memorial Medical Center.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Palm Beach Post
He sustained minor injuries in the attack which took place around 1.20pm on Saturday, 31 March 2007 at Waveland Park on Hutchinson Island, St Lucie County, Florida, United States.
He was treated and released at Martin Memorial Medical Center.
No other details were reported at the time of this blog.
Sources:
Palm Beach Post
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
INJURED – 20 March 2007 -- South Golden Beach, New South Wales, Australia – surfer attacked
Jodie Cooper, 42, was bitten on the left hand by a 5-foot shark while surfing at South Golden Beach, New South Wales, Australia on Tuesday 20 March 2007.
Cooper, a former number 2 on the pro surfing circuit, suffered lacerations and bone-deep cuts to her hand.
She told media about the attack: “I just went 'okay, I'm being attacked by a shark'."
She had just finished riding a wave and was paddling back to catch another one when the shark latched onto her left hand.
“It just came up from underneath me and just bit me - just like in the movies, it's pretty classic, except lucky it was small shark, a little five-foot thing," Cooper said.
“I didn't even see the thing the whole time, it just gave me a good old chomp on the hand and took a couple of knuckles."
“I'm not saying I'm this heroic bloody thing, I was shitting my pants, you know.
“It's one of those things in all honesty that we can laugh about now and I'm just laughing about it,” she said.
"It's just like I've been bitten by a big dog, just down to the bone on two knuckles, and then about 10 teeth lacerations up my hand," Cooper said.
"There doesn't appear to be any ligament damage ... and I can sort of wiggle my hand."
I'll give it a couple of days and then I'll go surfing for sure."
Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
Cooper, a former number 2 on the pro surfing circuit, suffered lacerations and bone-deep cuts to her hand.
She told media about the attack: “I just went 'okay, I'm being attacked by a shark'."
She had just finished riding a wave and was paddling back to catch another one when the shark latched onto her left hand.
“It just came up from underneath me and just bit me - just like in the movies, it's pretty classic, except lucky it was small shark, a little five-foot thing," Cooper said.
“I didn't even see the thing the whole time, it just gave me a good old chomp on the hand and took a couple of knuckles."
“I'm not saying I'm this heroic bloody thing, I was shitting my pants, you know.
“It's one of those things in all honesty that we can laugh about now and I'm just laughing about it,” she said.
"It's just like I've been bitten by a big dog, just down to the bone on two knuckles, and then about 10 teeth lacerations up my hand," Cooper said.
"There doesn't appear to be any ligament damage ... and I can sort of wiggle my hand."
I'll give it a couple of days and then I'll go surfing for sure."
Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday, March 15, 2007
DESCRIBED -- The woman attacked at Moore Park beach tells her story
59-year-old Mary Jane Ryan was malled by a suspected 2-metre bull shark – details here.
She tells her story from her hospital bed...
I felt like I'd been hit by a truck... I knew it was something big and I knew I had to get out of there or I'd be dead. End of story."
Those were the words of Mary Jane Ryan yesterday as she lay in a bed in Queensland's Bundaberg Hospital reliving the terrifying shark attack which she believes could have claimed her life.
Sporting a massive bruise to her right hand and arm and a badly gouged leg, Ms Ryan, 59, gave a graphic account of the leisurely Monday afternoon swim at Moore Park beach, just north of Bundaberg, that ended in horror.
Escaping the sweltering 38C heat, Ms Ryan had been swimming alone in chest-deep calm water at low tide when the shark struck.
"All of a sudden, bam, and I knew it was a shark," she said.
"And I knew it had bit my leg and people say 'did you look around?' and it was like 'no, I just knew I had to get out of there'.
More here at NEWS.com.au…
She tells her story from her hospital bed...
I felt like I'd been hit by a truck... I knew it was something big and I knew I had to get out of there or I'd be dead. End of story."
Those were the words of Mary Jane Ryan yesterday as she lay in a bed in Queensland's Bundaberg Hospital reliving the terrifying shark attack which she believes could have claimed her life.
Sporting a massive bruise to her right hand and arm and a badly gouged leg, Ms Ryan, 59, gave a graphic account of the leisurely Monday afternoon swim at Moore Park beach, just north of Bundaberg, that ended in horror.
Escaping the sweltering 38C heat, Ms Ryan had been swimming alone in chest-deep calm water at low tide when the shark struck.
"All of a sudden, bam, and I knew it was a shark," she said.
"And I knew it had bit my leg and people say 'did you look around?' and it was like 'no, I just knew I had to get out of there'.
More here at NEWS.com.au…
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
INJURED – 12 March 2007 – Moore Park, Queensland, Australia – wader attacked
A very brief report on Australia’s ABC News Online says a woman (unnamed) was bitten on the foot by a shark at Moore Park, near Bundaberg in south-east Queensland at about 3.30pm local time on Monday 12 March 2007.
The woman managed to walk to a nearby kiosk and call for help. She was taken to Bundaberg Base Hospital for treatment for bruising and cuts to her foot.
No other details were reported.
Source: ABC News Online
The woman managed to walk to a nearby kiosk and call for help. She was taken to Bundaberg Base Hospital for treatment for bruising and cuts to her foot.
No other details were reported.
Source: ABC News Online
Monday, March 12, 2007
INJURED – 11 March 2007 – Tiger Shores Beach, Hutchinson Island, Florida – surfer attacked
Adam McMichael suffered deep cuts on his right forearm after being attacked by a shark while surfing at Tiger Shores Beach, Hutchinson Island, Florida at around 1pm on Sunday 11 March, 2007.
According to a report in Florida’s Sun Sentinel several witnesses heard McMichael screaming for help. He managed to paddle back to shore where he was assisted by beachgoers before paramedics arrived.
Kaye Cross, on vacation in Florida, looked in McMichael's direction from her spot on the beach and could see "big, long deep slices" on his arm and "a trail of blood."
A resident of nearby Jensen Beach, Craig Price, told the newspaper that McMichael said he had “just felt a tug” and never saw the shark, which remains unidentified.
McMichael was taken to Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart for surgery to save tissue in his shoulder. He was reported in stable condition.
Sources: Sun Sentinel
According to a report in Florida’s Sun Sentinel several witnesses heard McMichael screaming for help. He managed to paddle back to shore where he was assisted by beachgoers before paramedics arrived.
Kaye Cross, on vacation in Florida, looked in McMichael's direction from her spot on the beach and could see "big, long deep slices" on his arm and "a trail of blood."
A resident of nearby Jensen Beach, Craig Price, told the newspaper that McMichael said he had “just felt a tug” and never saw the shark, which remains unidentified.
McMichael was taken to Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart for surgery to save tissue in his shoulder. He was reported in stable condition.
Sources: Sun Sentinel
Monday, March 05, 2007
INJURED – 4 March 2007?? – Penryn, Cook Islands – spearfisher attacked
A brief 5 March 2007 report on the Radio New Zealand International website says a 16-year-old boy, Turua William Maretapu , from the northern Cook Islands was bitten on the leg by a Tiger shark while spearfishing.
The report quotes the Cook Island Times as saying Turua was swimming over the reef into the lagoon at Penrhyn after spearfishing.
“He spotted the shark and fired at it.
“The shot missed and the shark bit his leg.”
The report did not mention the time or date of the attack.
According to the report others on the reef including his uncle who has First Aid knowledge helped him.
“Turua was rushed to hospital, where the doctor said the first aid probably stopped him bleeding to death.”
No other details were reported.
Source:
Radio New Zealand International
The report quotes the Cook Island Times as saying Turua was swimming over the reef into the lagoon at Penrhyn after spearfishing.
“He spotted the shark and fired at it.
“The shot missed and the shark bit his leg.”
The report did not mention the time or date of the attack.
According to the report others on the reef including his uncle who has First Aid knowledge helped him.
“Turua was rushed to hospital, where the doctor said the first aid probably stopped him bleeding to death.”
No other details were reported.
Source:
Radio New Zealand International
Sunday, February 18, 2007
STATS -- Shark attacks up in 2006, but show long-term decline
Shark attacks edged up slightly in 2006 but continued an overall long-term decline as overfishing and more cautious swimmers helped take a bite out of the aggressive encounters, new University of Florida research finds.
The total number of shark attacks worldwide increased from 61 in 2005 to 62 in 2006 and the number of fatalities remained stable at four, far below the 79 attacks and 11 fatalities recorded in 2000, said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File housed at UF’s Florida Museum of Natural History.
“This was a nice dull year and we love dull years because it means there are fewer serious attacks and fewer victims,” Burgess said. “It’s really quite remarkable when you have only four people a year die in the mouth of a shark and puts in perspective how small shark attack is as a phenomenon.”
Fewer sharks are swarming near the shore where humans swim as larger numbers of shark and other fish of prey are killed each year, Burgess said. At the same time, many Third World countries are making strides in improving medical care and beach safety, while many people are getting smarter about where and when to get into the water, he said.
“They’re starting to see that when they enter the sea, they’re engaging in a wilderness experience as opposed to entering the equivalent of a backyard pool,” he said.
As a result, the rate of attacks has actually declined over the years as human population has increased, he said.
The number of attacks in the United States, the world’s leader, dipped slightly from 40 in 2005 to 38 in 2006; well below the 53 recorded in 2000, he said.
As in past years, Florida was the world’s shark capital, with 23 attacks, Burgess said. This was slightly higher than the 19 cases reported in 2005 but considerably lower than the annual average of 33 between 2000 and 2003, he said.
Elsewhere in the world, Burgess tracked seven attacks in Australia, four in South Africa, three in Brazil, two in the Bahamas and one each in Fiji, Guam, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, La Reunion, Spain and Tonga.
The four fatalities were in Australia, Brazil, La Reunion and Tonga. The Australian victim was a woman swimming with her dog, and the attack may have been provoked by fishermen throwing bloodied fish in the ocean as they cleaned their catch. The Brazilian fatality was a male surfer in waters off the northeastern part of the country. The Tonga case involved a 24-year-old female swimmer who was an American Peace Corps volunteer. The attack off the Indian Ocean island of Reunion was on a 34-year-old male surfing in an area where swimming and other recreational activities are forbidden.
With globalization, not all people are taking precautions as they venture into remote corners of the world that once were sleepy villages with strictly native populations, he said.
“Some of these tourists bring their aquatic recreation to places known to be sharky without asking the natives about good and bad places,” Burgess said. “The natives may know that you don’t go into the water off a certain point because that’s where the big tiger shark is, and the French tourist who decides to go sailboarding there gets grabbed by the tiger shark.”
Surfers and windsurfers were the most frequent victims in 2006, accounting for 26 of the shark attacks, followed by swimmers and waders, 21, and divers and snorkelers, five.
Besides Florida’s 23 attacks, elsewhere in the United States attacks numbered four in South Carolina; three each in Hawaii and Oregon; two in California; and one each in New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas.
“Within Florida, Volusia County and particularly New Smyrna Beach is the hot spot,” he said.
“This area on a square mile basis has more attacks than anyplace else in the world.”
A nearby inlet draws many swimmers, surfers and sharks, which find all the splashing, kicking and other movements humans make in the water highly provocative, Burgess said.
Shark attacks in Volusia County increased from nine in 2005 to 12 in 2006. Numbers of attacks recorded in other Florida counties were three in Brevard, two each in Manatee and St. Lucie and one each in Collier, Monroe, Indian River and Palm Beach.
“Even though there are a large number of attacks in Volusia County and along the entire east coast of Florida, the injuries are seldom very serious and fatalities are highly unusual,” he said.
Sources: Science Daily
The total number of shark attacks worldwide increased from 61 in 2005 to 62 in 2006 and the number of fatalities remained stable at four, far below the 79 attacks and 11 fatalities recorded in 2000, said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File housed at UF’s Florida Museum of Natural History.
“This was a nice dull year and we love dull years because it means there are fewer serious attacks and fewer victims,” Burgess said. “It’s really quite remarkable when you have only four people a year die in the mouth of a shark and puts in perspective how small shark attack is as a phenomenon.”
Fewer sharks are swarming near the shore where humans swim as larger numbers of shark and other fish of prey are killed each year, Burgess said. At the same time, many Third World countries are making strides in improving medical care and beach safety, while many people are getting smarter about where and when to get into the water, he said.
“They’re starting to see that when they enter the sea, they’re engaging in a wilderness experience as opposed to entering the equivalent of a backyard pool,” he said.
As a result, the rate of attacks has actually declined over the years as human population has increased, he said.
The number of attacks in the United States, the world’s leader, dipped slightly from 40 in 2005 to 38 in 2006; well below the 53 recorded in 2000, he said.
As in past years, Florida was the world’s shark capital, with 23 attacks, Burgess said. This was slightly higher than the 19 cases reported in 2005 but considerably lower than the annual average of 33 between 2000 and 2003, he said.
Elsewhere in the world, Burgess tracked seven attacks in Australia, four in South Africa, three in Brazil, two in the Bahamas and one each in Fiji, Guam, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, La Reunion, Spain and Tonga.
The four fatalities were in Australia, Brazil, La Reunion and Tonga. The Australian victim was a woman swimming with her dog, and the attack may have been provoked by fishermen throwing bloodied fish in the ocean as they cleaned their catch. The Brazilian fatality was a male surfer in waters off the northeastern part of the country. The Tonga case involved a 24-year-old female swimmer who was an American Peace Corps volunteer. The attack off the Indian Ocean island of Reunion was on a 34-year-old male surfing in an area where swimming and other recreational activities are forbidden.
With globalization, not all people are taking precautions as they venture into remote corners of the world that once were sleepy villages with strictly native populations, he said.
“Some of these tourists bring their aquatic recreation to places known to be sharky without asking the natives about good and bad places,” Burgess said. “The natives may know that you don’t go into the water off a certain point because that’s where the big tiger shark is, and the French tourist who decides to go sailboarding there gets grabbed by the tiger shark.”
Surfers and windsurfers were the most frequent victims in 2006, accounting for 26 of the shark attacks, followed by swimmers and waders, 21, and divers and snorkelers, five.
Besides Florida’s 23 attacks, elsewhere in the United States attacks numbered four in South Carolina; three each in Hawaii and Oregon; two in California; and one each in New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas.
“Within Florida, Volusia County and particularly New Smyrna Beach is the hot spot,” he said.
“This area on a square mile basis has more attacks than anyplace else in the world.”
A nearby inlet draws many swimmers, surfers and sharks, which find all the splashing, kicking and other movements humans make in the water highly provocative, Burgess said.
Shark attacks in Volusia County increased from nine in 2005 to 12 in 2006. Numbers of attacks recorded in other Florida counties were three in Brevard, two each in Manatee and St. Lucie and one each in Collier, Monroe, Indian River and Palm Beach.
“Even though there are a large number of attacks in Volusia County and along the entire east coast of Florida, the injuries are seldom very serious and fatalities are highly unusual,” he said.
Sources: Science Daily
Monday, February 05, 2007
FATAL -- 14 January 2007 -- Second Beach, Port St Johns, Transkei, South Africa -- swimmer attacked
Sibulele Masiza, 24, was presumed killed by a tiger shark after he went missing while swimming off Second Beach at Port St Johns, Transkei, South Africa on Sunday 14 January.
A spokesperson for the Natal Sharks Board, Geremy Cliff, told the Daily Dispatch newspaper: “Judging by the circumstances of his disappearance and the flipper that was torn, it can only have been a tiger shark attack.”
According to the report Masiza’s torn flipper was washed up onto the beach soon after he disappeared. His body was never recovered.
Cliff told the newspaper the fine serration on Masiza’s flipper could only have been caused by the cockscomb-shaped teeth of a tiger shark, which differed from other sharks such as great whites or Zambezis.
According to the report Masiza, who was a life-saver, was attacked by a shark in 2004 and had gashes on his legs from the incident.
Source:
Daily Dispatch
A spokesperson for the Natal Sharks Board, Geremy Cliff, told the Daily Dispatch newspaper: “Judging by the circumstances of his disappearance and the flipper that was torn, it can only have been a tiger shark attack.”
According to the report Masiza’s torn flipper was washed up onto the beach soon after he disappeared. His body was never recovered.
Cliff told the newspaper the fine serration on Masiza’s flipper could only have been caused by the cockscomb-shaped teeth of a tiger shark, which differed from other sharks such as great whites or Zambezis.
According to the report Masiza, who was a life-saver, was attacked by a shark in 2004 and had gashes on his legs from the incident.
Source:
Daily Dispatch
Sunday, February 04, 2007
INJURED -- 3 February 2007 -- Angel’s Beach, New South Wales, Australia -- surfer attacked
Matthew McIntosh, 26, was bitten on the lower left leg by a shark while boogie boarding at Angel’s Beach between Ballina and Lennox Head New South Wales, Australia.
The attack took place at 8am on Saturday 3 February 2007. The man suffered lacerations to his lower left leg and foot.
Surfers who were at the beach said his flipper was shredded and he had a deep gash to his ankle.
Police told media the shark shark pulled the man from his boogie.
"He managed to raise the alarm with his friend, he swam towards shore, got back onto his boogie board and his friend came in and then went out and actually assisted him back into the beach," Inspector David Driver told reporters.
He was airlifted for treatment at Lismore Base Hospital.
Some media reports speculated that the shark was a 2-3m bronze whaler.
Sources
Village Voice
The Sunday Telegraph
The attack took place at 8am on Saturday 3 February 2007. The man suffered lacerations to his lower left leg and foot.
Surfers who were at the beach said his flipper was shredded and he had a deep gash to his ankle.
Police told media the shark shark pulled the man from his boogie.
"He managed to raise the alarm with his friend, he swam towards shore, got back onto his boogie board and his friend came in and then went out and actually assisted him back into the beach," Inspector David Driver told reporters.
He was airlifted for treatment at Lismore Base Hospital.
Some media reports speculated that the shark was a 2-3m bronze whaler.
Sources
Village Voice
The Sunday Telegraph
Saturday, January 27, 2007
INJURED – 23 January 2007 – Cape Howe, New South Wales, Australia – diver attacked
Eric Nerhus, 41, escaped with his life, a broken nose and minor cuts to his torso, after a three to four metre Great White shark swallowed half his body, head first.
Nerhus, an Australian, was diving for abalone off Cape Howe, New South Wales, Australia, a place he’d dived hundreds of times previously. The attack took place on Tuesday 23 January 2007, while he was collecting abalone 25 feet below the surface. He was diving with his son and other divers, according to media reports.
"Half my body was in its mouth,” he told media.
“I went straight into its mouth, front onwards. My shoulders, my head and one arm went straight down into its throat. I could feel the teeth crunching up and down on my weight vest," he said.
It seems the lead-lined vest Nerhus was wearing as a diving weight saved his life.
He said he spent two minutes inside the shark's mouth, without his air supply, and with his head being crushed as the shark’s teeth scraped across his lead vest.
With his free arm he said "I felt down to the eye socket with my two fingers and poked them into the socket. The shark reacted by opening its mouth and I just tried to wriggle out. It was still trying to bite me.”
It crushed his goggles into his face breaking his nose. The goggles fell into its mouth.
Nerhus ascended slowly, trying to remain calm with the shark swimming tight circles around his swim fins.
"The big round black eye, five inches wide, was staring straight into my face with just not one hint of fear, of any boat, or any human, or any other animal in the sea.
"They have just got no fear, those sharks."
He son and tow other divers hoisted him into the fishing boat as the shark made another lunge for him.
"Just before I got out of the water it was just coming up under my legs again, so I'm sure it would've probably bit my legs off on the next one,” he said.
Nerhus was flown to hospital, where he managed to sit up in bed the next day to be interviewed by media.
Sources:
ABC News
Herald News Daily
Nerhus, an Australian, was diving for abalone off Cape Howe, New South Wales, Australia, a place he’d dived hundreds of times previously. The attack took place on Tuesday 23 January 2007, while he was collecting abalone 25 feet below the surface. He was diving with his son and other divers, according to media reports.
"Half my body was in its mouth,” he told media.
“I went straight into its mouth, front onwards. My shoulders, my head and one arm went straight down into its throat. I could feel the teeth crunching up and down on my weight vest," he said.
It seems the lead-lined vest Nerhus was wearing as a diving weight saved his life.
He said he spent two minutes inside the shark's mouth, without his air supply, and with his head being crushed as the shark’s teeth scraped across his lead vest.
With his free arm he said "I felt down to the eye socket with my two fingers and poked them into the socket. The shark reacted by opening its mouth and I just tried to wriggle out. It was still trying to bite me.”
It crushed his goggles into his face breaking his nose. The goggles fell into its mouth.
Nerhus ascended slowly, trying to remain calm with the shark swimming tight circles around his swim fins.
"The big round black eye, five inches wide, was staring straight into my face with just not one hint of fear, of any boat, or any human, or any other animal in the sea.
"They have just got no fear, those sharks."
He son and tow other divers hoisted him into the fishing boat as the shark made another lunge for him.
"Just before I got out of the water it was just coming up under my legs again, so I'm sure it would've probably bit my legs off on the next one,” he said.
Nerhus was flown to hospital, where he managed to sit up in bed the next day to be interviewed by media.
Sources:
ABC News
Herald News Daily
Monday, January 08, 2007
SCARED -- 5 January 2007 -- Housings, Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii -- surfer attacked
A 24-year-old surfer from Waimea, Oahu, (name withheld by officials) was unhurt after a 6-8 foot unidentified shark attacked and bit a bite out of his board while he was surfing at Housings surf spot on Kauai, Hawaii. The attack took place at around 10.15am on Friday, 5 January 2007.
A Pacific Missile Range Facility information officer told media the shark bit a 13-inch chunk out of the front of his board.
"He was unhurt but obviously shaken up and thankful," the officer said. The surfer spoke to a resident at the base before driving away in his car, although it wasn't reported what he said.
According to Hawaii’s Star Bulletin he told Kauai staff members of the Department of Land and Natural Resources that the shark was between 6 and 8 feet, but he couldn’t identify the type.
No further details were reported.
Source:
Star Bulletin
A Pacific Missile Range Facility information officer told media the shark bit a 13-inch chunk out of the front of his board.
"He was unhurt but obviously shaken up and thankful," the officer said. The surfer spoke to a resident at the base before driving away in his car, although it wasn't reported what he said.
According to Hawaii’s Star Bulletin he told Kauai staff members of the Department of Land and Natural Resources that the shark was between 6 and 8 feet, but he couldn’t identify the type.
No further details were reported.
Source:
Star Bulletin
Pic credit:
Tom Clements/Pacific Missile Range Facility
Tom Clements/Pacific Missile Range Facility
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