INJURED – 24 May 2008 – Zihuatanejo, Pacific coast, Mexico – surfer attacked

A brief report from the Associated Press, says a surfer, Bruce Greems, lost his thumb in a shark attack at a beach at Zihuatanejo, Pacific coast, Mexico. The incident occurred on Saturday 24 May 2008.

Authorities said the man managed to drive himself to hospital.

The attack follows a fatal shark attack the day before at Pantla beach a few kilometres away.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Associated Press

FATAL – 23 May 2008 – Pantla Beach, Zihuatanejo, Pacific Coast, Mexico – surfer attacked

Osvaldo Mata, 21, died from his wounds after being bitten by a shark while surfing with friends at Pantla Beach about 20 km from the resort town of Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The incident occurred on Friday 23 May 2008.

Witnesses said a 2 metre shark bit off one of his hands and took two bites out of his thigh – leaving a 30 cm gash. His friends paddled him to shore, but he lost consciousness before medics arrived.

Pantla beach is a few kilometres from Troncones beach, where there was a fatal shark attack on 28 April this year.

Jorge Duque Valle, who witnessed the attack, said: "He raised his hand and screamed, and that was when his hand and leg were bitten.

"Osvaldo went under. He was under water for a while and then he emerged bleeding."

No other details were reported.

Sources:
The Telegraph
Reuters
BBC News

FATAL – 14 May 2008 – Turtle Island, Yasawa, Fiji – diver attacked

Aisake Sadole, 28, died from excessive blood loss after being bitten on the left leg and face while night diving with friends in waters off Turtle Island, Yasawa, Fiji. The incident took place sometime after 9pm on 14 May 2008.

Brief reports from Fiji Live and The Fiji Times say a group of villagers went night diving around 9pm. After several hours they realised one of the group had not surfaced. The found Sadole's body “at the bottom of the sea”.

He was taken to Lautoka Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Fiji Live
The Fiji Times

INJURED – 9 May 2008 – Middelton Beach, Albany, Western Australia – swimmer attacked

CAPTION: taken immediately after shark attack at Middleton Beach. The picture shows Joanne Lucas helping victim Jason Cull to shore (two heads in foreground) while Jason's two friends swim to shore (the two heads further out) kicking the water to scare the shark off. It's fin can be seen close behind.

Jason Cull, 37, suffered major wounds to his left leg after being bitten by a four-metre White Pointer (Great White) shark while swimming with two friends about 80 metres off Middleton Beach in Albany, Western Australia. The attack occurred about 7.30am Friday 9 May 2008.

In a remarkable act of bravery he was rescued by a local woman, mother-of-three Joanne Lucas who swam out to him and brought him to shore. His two friends swam in behind them while the shark circled them just metres away.

Cull told media he saw a dark shape in the water and thought it was a dolphin.

"It was much bigger than a dolphin when it came up. It banged straight into me - I realised what it was, it was a shark,'' he said.

"I sort of punched it, and it grabbed me by the leg and dragged me under the water.

"I just remember being dragged backwards underwater. I felt along it, I found its eye and I poked it in the eye, and that's when it let go.''

Lucas, who was on the beach at the time of the attack, told media about the incident.

"I just saw someone thrashing in the water and saying 'Help me, help me.

"I thought it was just a dolphin [in the water] but someone else was screaming, `He has been attacked,' so I raced down there."

"Instinct just kicked in.

"I didn't even have to think about it, which is amazing really. It all just happened. I didn't think, I just thought I had to get in there.

"I got to him and he said: 'Thank God. Thank you so much -- a shark has attacked my leg.''

"It thought it was a dolphin to start with, but when he told me it had taken a big chunk (from his leg), I thought `Oh no'.

"I kept thinking that I've got to get him in before it turns around and comes after us. I was thinking I have to beat (the shark) in (to shore).

"I just kept pulling him through the water, pulling him in.''

Lucas said when they got to shore, they wrapped towels on the wounds as makeshift pressure bandages. "He had huge chunks taken out of his leg, his calf and the knee area,'' she said. I just kept talking to him because I didn't want him to go unconscious. Everyone was so good, they all just got into the mode and helped out. He held it together, he was just fantastic.''

Cull was treated by surf club members on the beach, given first aid and oxygen, and taken by St John Ambulance to Albany Regional Hospital, where he underwent surgery on his left leg. He was later reported in a stable condition.

Sources:
Perth Now

Sydney Morning Herald

The Australian

Courier Mail

Photo credit:
Perth Now. Photo by Mark Bickerdike

INJURED – 7 May 2008 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, US – wader attacked

A brief report in the Miami Herald says a 6-year-old boy was bitten in the foot by a shark in the waters off New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, US.

Authorities say the boy was bitten Wednesday morning, 7 May 2008, no more than a couple of yards from the shore. His injury was minor. He received stitches at the hospital.

No other details were reported.

Source: Miami Herald