INJURED -- 6 December 2006 -- Cape Vidal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa -- angler attacked

A brief report in South Africa’s The Citizen newspaper says an angler with national colours, Peter Willoughby, 25, was bitten by a 150kg ragged tooth shark while trying to unhook it after catching the shark at Cape Vidal, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa.

The report said the incident happened at 7pm on 6 December 2006. Willoughby was standing in waist-deep, discoloured water when he caught the shark.

He was bitten on his hands, calf and thigh.

“In trying to unhook it, Willoughby was bitten on the hand and as he let go, a wave rolled the shark onto his body and he was bitten again.

"Willoughby lost a lot of blood and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife staff immediately arranged for him to be taken to St Lucia, where Dr Jan Combrink treated him,” according to the report.

He received 63 stitches to his wounds.

A KZN wildlife park spokesman told the newspaper: “The young man was very lucky it was a raggie, which has sharp, pointed teeth rather than cutters.

“This provoked incident is the first of its kind along this coast.”

Sources:
The Citizen