INJURED – 9 July 2008 -- Emerald Isle, North Carolina, USA – swimmer attacked

Baileigh Foster, 14, was bitten on the right foot by a shark while swimming off Emerald Isle, North Carolina, US. Baileigh told media she was in waist-deep water at around 7.30pm when the shark bit her. It was Wednesday 9 July 2008.

She said she felt a sharp pain, “like being stabbed” on the top and bottom of her right foot.

She said the water was a little rough, and she had been pushed away from the rest of the group by about 10 feet. She and her cousin thought they saw something earlier that day that kind of looked like a lot of fish were swimming in one area but didn’t think it was anything to mention, she said.

“When I turned to go back to shore, it just bit me. There wasn’t any pulling. It was scary,” she said.

“It was just like 10 seconds. The shark just came up and bit me and let go like I was a small fish or something.”

Running out of the water screaming, she said no one thought anything was wrong because she had been screaming like that earlier while playing with cousins. But then her uncle looked at her face and saw her foot and yelled at all the other kids to get out of the water.

She underwent surgery at Carteret General Hospital to repair lacerations, a severed tendon and a fracture in her foot.

Sources:

Jacksonville News

Caronlina Coast

Photo credit:
Dylan Ray

FATAL? – 28 June 2008 -- Kamilo Point, Ka'u, Hawaii – diver attacked

A brief report out of Hawaii says the remains of the body of a diver who disappeared while “picking opihi (limpets)” was found with shark bite marks. An inquest has been opened.

Police were yet to positively link the remains to the diver - Nathan Labarios, 58, who was reported missing at 4:45pm Saturday by friends he was camping with at Kamilo Point, Ka'u, Hawaii. According to media reports they said they had last seen him around 11am before he left to pick opihi alone.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Honolulu Advertiser

INJURED – 26 June 2008 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, US -- surfer attacked

A 29-year-old surfer (name not released) was bitten by a shark on his left foot on Thursday afternoon, 26 June 2008. The incident occurred at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, US.

According to media reports he was sitting on his board with his feet dangling in the water when he was bitten. Authorities said his injuries were minor and did not require stitches.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Florida Today

INJURED – 26 June 2008 – Isle of Palms, South Carolina, US – swimmer attacked

A man (name not released) was bitten on his hand by a shark while swimming of the Isle off Palms, South Carolina, US, on Thursday morning, 28 June 2008.

Media reports said the 37-year-old told authorities he was swimming in the breaking waves when the 4 1/2- to 5-foot-long shark nipped his hand.

Authorities said: “He needed immediate medical attention, but it didn't look like he was going to have any long-term issues.”

He declined to use an ambulance and went to East Cooper Medical Center in a personal vehicle.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Post and Courier

INJURED – 20 June 2008 -- Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA – wader attacked

Jennifer Castion received severe lacerations to both sides of her lower right calf from a shark bite in chest-deep waters off Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA. The incident occurred 11 am Friday, 20 June 2008.

She reportedly told authorities she felt something grab her leg in chest-high water. After a struggle, it let her leg go.

Once ashore, her husband wrapped her leg in a towel, took her to the nearby beach house they were staying at and called 911. She was flown via air ambulance to Shands Jacksonville hospital.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Florida Times
Fox News

INJURED – 1 June 2008 – Cherry Grove, South Carolina, United States – swimmer attacked

Madi Taff, 15, received minor wounds after being bitten by a shark on the foot while body surfing at Cherry Grove, South Carolina, United States. The incident occurred on 1 June but was only reported on 16 June 2008.

She was rushed to a lifeguard station and then taken to hospital where she had 16 stitches to close the wound.

Madi said she thought she hit her leg on a rock or was bitten by a large crab.

Judging by the bite, doctors said the shark was about 5 feet long. Authorities speculate the shark was either a Sandbar or a Black Tip shark.

Sources:
WSMV
WZTV

INJURED – 12 June 2008 -- Del Cifre beach, Pernambuco state, Brazil – surfer attacked

A 14-year-old surfer, Galvao de Franca, was bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing off Del Cifre beach in Pernambuco state, north east Brazil, according to a 12 June 2008 SkyNews report. The date of the attack was not mentioned, although it did refer to refer to a previous attack – 10 days ago – where another 14-year-old surfer lost his hand, also in Pernambuco state and some 20 miles south of this attack.

According to the report the boy managed to break lose from the shark's jaws and swim ashore. A passing ambulance crew took him to hospital.

He suffered a deep gash in his left leg and lost a lot of bllod, but was expected to recover.

Authorities told media the beach was off limits to bathers and surfers because of the many sharks in the area. Galvao apparently ignored signs on the beach warning of the danger of sharks.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
SkyNews

INJURED – 1 June 2008 – Piedade beach, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil – swimmer attacked

Wellington dos Santos, 14, had his right hand completely severed and suffered large bite wounds to his buttocks from a shark attack while swimming beyond the coral reef about 150 metres off the beach at Piedade, near the Pernambuco state capital Recife.

Lifeguards rescued dos Santos and rushed him to a hospital, where he was reported to be in critical but stable condition at the time of this blog.

Pernambuco state fire department spokesman Marcio Maia, told media that as well as losing his right hand the shark “bit off a large chunk of his buttocks”.

The attack was the 51st since authorities started keeping count of shark attacks in the area in 1992. Maia said that sharks have killed 19 people in Pernambuco state over the past 15 years.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Associated Press

INJURED – 26 May 2008 -- Hammocks Beach State Park, Bear Island, North Carolina, United States – surfer attacked

A brief report from WRAL.com says a nine-year-old boy, William Early, was presumed bitten by a shark while surfing in shallow water off Bear Island in the Hammocks Beach State Park, North Carolina, United States. The incident occurred around 4pm on Monday 26 May 2008.

A spokesperson for the Parks and Recreation authority said the boy had just got off his surfboard “when a large fish attacked him”.

William suffered lacerations to his upper and lower left arm. He underwent surgery at Wilmington hospital to correct some nerve damage and returned home to recover.

Doctors said William's wounds were consistent with a shark bite. However, no one saw a shark at the scene.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
WRAL.com

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

FATAL – 28 April 2008 – Troncones, near Ixtapa, Pacific coast, Mexico – surfer attacked

Adrian Ruiz, 24, died from blood loss after being bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing at Troncones beach, near Ixtapa, Pacific coast, Mexico. The incident took place on Monday 28 April 2008.

The public security ministry in the state of Guerrero said in a statement the shark bite opened a 38 cm wound from his hip to his knee, exposing his femur.

"He was rushed in a bystander's vehicle to the military naval hospital, where he died soon after from blood loss," the statement said.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Reuters

INJURED – 26 April 2008 – New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA – surfer attacked

A 21-year-old surfer (name not reported) was nipped on the right foot by a shark while surfing at New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA.

The incident occurred around 9am on Saturday 26 April 2008.

The surfer suffered minor injuries and managed to drive himself to Bert Fish Medical Center.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Daytona Beach News Journal

FATAL – 25 April 2008 -- Solana Beach, San Diego, California, USA – swimmer attacked

Dave Martin, 66, died from extensive injuries after he was bitten on both legs by what is believed to be a Great White shark. The incident occurred while he was swimming with friends from the Triathlon Club of San Diego around 7am at Solana Beach on Friday, 25 April 2008.

One witness said there was a single bite across both legs.

San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Randy Webb said Martin was taken to a lifeguard station for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography shark expert Richard Rosenblatt was quoted as saying the shark was probably a great white between 3.5 metres and five metres long.

The attack took place about 150 metres offshore. Two swimmers were about 20 metres ahead of the man when they heard him scream for help. They turned around and dragged him back to shore.

Rob Hill, also a member of the triathlon club said he was running on the beach at the time of the attack.

“They saw him come up out of the water, scream 'shark,' flail his arms and go back under,” Hill said.

Hill said the flesh was just hanging and he may have bled to death before he left the water.

Sources:
Associated Press

Agence France Presse

PIC:

Triathlon club members try to resuscitate Martin

Credit: SkyNews

FATAL – 8 April 2008 -- Lighthouse Beach, Ballina, New South Wales, Australia – surfer attacked

Peter Edmonds, 16, died of blood loss from his wounds after being bitten by a shark while bodyboarding with a friend at Lighthouse Beach, Ballina, New South Wales, Australia. The incident happened at 8am Tuesday 8 April 2008.

His friend Brock Curtis pulled him ashore following the attack, but was unable to resuscitate him. He was bitten twice on the left leg.

The attack happened in murky water close to the mouth of the Richmond River estuary.

Brock said he saw his friend in trouble and paddled out to him

The report from The West Australian newspaper describes the event:

"As he approached him he saw the water was beginning to turn red," Surf Life Saving NSW spokesman Stephen Leahy said later.

Brock told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) he saw a "big, grey shadow" pass by him but still paddled toward his stricken friend.

He was not afraid because he did not know what it was.

"In the water I was in line with him (Peter) and noticed that he was in a bit of trouble," he said.

"As I headed towards him it looked like he was catching a wave and was heading back to shore.

"Then I saw him on his back with his head above the water so then he turned so he was face down.

"I thought he was only joking, so I went over to him and as I flipped him over I saw his leg."

Brock dragged Peter to shore and tried in vain to resuscitate him, only for him to die of blood loss.

"He didn't make one noise," he said.

A shark expert at Taronga Zoo, which keeps the Australian
Shark Attack File, said it was most likely a Bull shark.

Links:
Australian Shark Attack File
Australian Associated Press

Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
The West Australian

INJURED – 4 April 2008 – Ponce de Leon Inlet, Volusia County, Florida, US -- surfer attacked

Joe Giangrasso, 18, was bitten on the right foot while surfing south of Ponce de Leon Inlet, Volusia County, Florida, US on Friday 4 April 2008.

Giangrasso suffered gashes to his foot that required numerous stitches.

He was treated by the Volusia County Beach Patrol and his friends drove him to Bert Fish Medical Center for treatment.

He described the attack: "I thought he was going to hit me and hold on for a second. When I went to pull out, he clamped on harder and shook his head. I tried to reach, grab and push, do whatever I could do, finally he let go."

No other details were reported such as the size or species of the shark.

Sources:
Central Florida News 13

WFTV.com

Photo credit (from video footage): NECM.com

INJURED – 25 March 2008 – West Palm Beach, Florida, US – swimmer attacked

Nick Canganelli, 15, sustained minor injuries after he was bitten on the calf by what is believed to be a 6-foot Spinner shark.

The incident happened at a private beach at West Palm Beach, Florida, US, on Tuesday 25 March 2008.

Nick said his brother and he were “playing with small schools of fish swimming close to shore when he felt something much bigger bite his lower calf”.

"It was instantaneous. It happened so fast I didn't even know how to react." Nick was quoted as saying. "I didn't even know until a surfer near by said dude, you just got bit by a shark."
The surfer told him the shark appeared to be 6 feet long.

Nick said he leg bled profusely when he left the water. He was rushed to hospital where he received stitches. He was expected to make a full recovery.

Sources:
My Fox Cleveland