FATAL – 29 August 2009 – Glentana Bay, Southern Cape, South Africa – surfer attacked

 

Gerhard van Zyl, 25, died after being attacked by a shark while surfing at Glentana Bay, near Mossel Bay on the southern Cape coast, South Africa. The incident occurred just after 3.30pm on Saturday 29 August 2009.

According to reports Van Zyl’s right leg had been almost completely severed below the knee. A friend pulled him from the water and helped tie a tourniquet around his leg. He was airlifted by emergency services to a hospital in the nearby town of George in a critical condition. He died later at the hospital.

There were no witness comments reported and it was not known what type of shark was responsible for the attack.

Sources:
News24
Cape Argus

INJURED – 31 July 2009 – near Abaco Key, Bahamas, Caribbean – Spearfisher attacked

Derek Mitchell, 14, was bitten on the right leg by a bull shark while spearfishing north of Abaco Key, Bahamas on Friday 31 July 2009. Derek received 16 lacerations to his right leg and a damaged Achilles tendon. He was taken ashore by boat and flown to St Mary’s Medical Center in Florida, US, where he underwent surgery. He was expected to make a  full recovery.

"I saw the shark. It came up to me and turned away. Then, it came back around. I stuck my head out off the water to call my dad. That's when it bit me," Derek told media.

"I didn't even know I got bitten, I thought I just got bumped by the shark, it didn't even go through my mind 'til I saw some blood.

"At first, I felt nothing. Then, it felt like a baseball bat hitting me. The shark seemed to be gnawing on me. It spun me around about 180 degrees. It all happened so fast.”

Sources:
WPTV
PalmBeachPost
TC Palm

Photo credit: Dale Mitchell/PalmBeachPost

INJURED – 1 August 2009 – near Breton Island, Louisiana, US – fisherman attacked

A brief report says Chris Haynes, 56, was bitten on the right leg while fishing from a boat near Breton Island about 65 miles southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana, US. The attack took place on Saturday 1 August 2009. Details were sketchy. According to the report Haynes said the shark attack lasted only a few seconds, but it left plenty of damage to his right leg.

He was airlifted from the boat by helicopter to the Coast Guard’s Air Station New Orleans and then taken to a hospital in Louisiana before being transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he spent more than a week.

No details of how the attack occurred or what type of shark it was were reported.

Sources:
16ABC

Technorati Tags: shark,fisherman,louisiana,breton island

INJURED – 10 August 2009 – Ponce Inlet, Volusia County, Florida, USA – swimmer attacked

 

A 26-year-old tourist from Spain was reported attacked by a shark Monday 10 August 2009 while swimming  at Ponce Inlet, Volusia County, Florida, USA.

According to the local beach patrol the man was was bitten on the foot while swimming around 7 pm.

His injuries were minor and he was treated at the beach.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Click Orlando