SURVIVOR STORY -- Seven Mile Beach, NSW, Australia

This report from the Illawarra Mercury – 29 June 2009.

For 10 chilling seconds Les Wade (pictured) faced off with the shark that had mauled his left leg, wondering if the creature was going to finish him off.

"It was just sitting there, swinging its tail from side to side. It was looking at me and I was looking at it and I thought, 'What's your next move? Are you going to attack me from the front?' "

The 52-year-old grandfather of six was yesterday counting his blessings after the brush with death that occurred in waist-high water and left him nervous about returning to the ocean.

Mr Wade, of Jaspers Brush just south of Berry, had been surfing alone at Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa, for an hour on Saturday morning when a wave brought him closer to shore about 8.30am.

"I got off the board and was standing on the sand in waist-deep water about 20m from shore, with the board facing back to where the break was.

"I started walking and was just about to jump back on the board and go back out when I felt something hit me from behind.

"At first I thought it was another surfer who had got his board and jammed it into the back of my legs.

"The sensation was like a big push then a big clamping action on my leg, but it didn't actually feel like I'd been bitten. It was pressure and a shove.''

Mr Wade said he turned around to confront his attacker, only to discover a 2m bronze whaler staring back at him.

"For 10 to 15 seconds, I'm looking at this thing and its tail fin is going back and forth really slowly.

"Then it just went, really quick. It thrashed around me and went beneath the surface and was just gone.''

Mr Wade said that as the beach was deserted, he made the amazing decision to climb back on his board and paddle out to sea, in the path of the shark, to seek help.

"There was about 20 surfers, surfing in groups of four and five.

"I said to them, 'I think I've been bitten, can you have a look?' But because I was lying on my stomach we couldn't really see the damage.

"All you could see was a few holes in the wetsuit and someone said, 'You might need a stitch or two, you'd better go in.'

"By the time we got to shore and had a better look, they went, 'Oh shit, we'd better get an ambulance'.''

Mr Wade said the wetsuit had concealed the fact the shark's teeth had dragged deep wounds along his skin, including a 15cm gash on his shin and a wound to the heel.

Wife Jenny, who met her husband at Shoalhaven Hospital, said the top of his foot sustained the most damage.

"You could peel the skin right back. I could see the bone while they were checking his tendons. I felt quite ill, watching," she said.

Mr Wade's wounds were cleaned and checked for shark teeth that may have broken off in his skin, before receiving more than 50 stitches.

He was released from hospital five hours later.

Despite earlier plans to return to the ocean as soon as possible, a fitful night's sleep had him thinking otherwise.

"I was trying to go to sleep but it just kept coming back, the impact of it," he said.

"Time will tell (if I return to the surf). It will be hard not to, but the first time I go back will be pretty daunting, walking through the 20 to 30m of shallow water.''

After 20 years of surfing, it was only the third time Mr Wade, a father of three adult children, had surfed at Gerroa.

Until two months ago, he had lived his whole life at Shellharbour, before relocating south and commuting daily to Wollongong, where he works at South Coast Equipment.

Despite the terror of his experience, he believes the shark attack was a case of mistaken identity.

"I was swimming near a school of fish. A guy surfing 50m along said there was a heap of flathead and the shark might have been chasing them.

"I had a full-length wetsuit on. With my feet on the bottom, they might have looked like fish."

Source:
Illawarra Mercury

PIC source: DAVE TEASE, Illawarra Mercury

INJURED – 27 June 2009 -- Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa, New South Wales, Australia – surfer attacked

Les Wade, 52, was bitten below the knee by a shark while surfing at Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa, New South Wales, Australia. The incident happened around 8.45am on Saturday 27 June 2009.

He said he thought is was a two-metre bronze whaler.

“I felt something push me from behind, I felt a pressure on my leg, I thought it was another surfer, I turned around to say, 'What are you doing', and then I saw the back of a shark," he told media.

It was believed he was helped to shore by fellow surfers.

He was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital and received 50 stitches to close 12 separate puncture wounds.

He was reported in a stable condition.

Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald
AFP

FATAL – 2 June 2009 -- Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt – diver attacked

A French woman (name, age not released) was killed by a shark while on a diving trip near Marsa Alam on the Red Sea coast of Egypt. The incident occurred 2 June 2009.

According to a French consular official, the woman, who was in her fifties, jumped into the water for a closer look when she mistook the shark for a big fish approaching her boat.

The woman’s leg showed visible bite marks, and she is thought to have bled to death before being pulled out of the water.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

Times Online

LiveJournal Tags: Red Sea,shark attack,Marsa Alam,diving

Technorati Tags: Red Sea,shark attack,Marsa Alam,diving

VIDEO – shark attacks cage with divers

VIDEO – Shark breaks into shark cage with divers

INJURED – 25 May 2009 – Clearwater Beach, Florida, US – swimmer attacked

A brief report by My Fox Tampa Bay says a man, Dana Joseph (no age given), claimed he was bitten on the right foot by a five- to eight-foot long shark while swimming near Pier 60 about 100 metres off Clearwater Beach, Florida, US. The incident happened around 7pm local time on Monday 25 May 2009.

"I went out in the water a little too deep and a shark grabbed my leg," Joseph told media. He said he swam away as fast as he could and got as many children out of the water as possible.

He had a small wound on his right foot and sought treatment at hospital. No other details were reported.

Sources:

myfoxtampabay

INJURED – 16-17 May 2009 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, US – 3 surfers attacked

From a brief report in the Miami Herald:

Authorities say three people received relatively minor bites from sharks off New Smyrna Beach over the weekend. (16-17 May 2009)

Emergency officials say two bites were reported about five minutes apart on Saturday morning. A third bite was reported around the same time of day Sunday morning.

One of Saturday's victims was bitten on his hand but was able to drive himself to the hospital. Another man was bitten on his foot and required surgery. Sunday's victim was bit on the leg and required several stitches.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Miami Herald

Technorati Tags: New Smyrna Beach,surfer,shark attack

INJURED – 16 May 2009 – Exuma Islands, Bahamas – diver attacked

A tourist diver, Luis Hernandez, 48, was bitten on the right arm by a bull shark while on a shark-feeding expedition. The attack left severe wounds to his arm. The incident happened on Saturday 16 May 2009, while he was diving off Exuma Islands in the Bahamas.

According to reports Hernandez said he could see strips of muscle dangling from his bone after the shark finally let go of his arm.

The shark bit down on Hernandez's arm and would not let go.
“It felt like a torpedo hit my body, and it pulled me out of the water and the next thing I saw was the face of the shark right next to my face. And I tried to fight him, I'm gonna say for about 30 seconds, and finally got him off my arm. And I injured my other hand trying to open his jaw,” Luis told CBS4.

Hernandez was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries to repair the damage. He still faces several more surgeries, but doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

 

Sources:
CDNN
CBS4

Photo Source:
CDNN

 

LiveJournal Tags: bull shark,Exuma,Bahamas,shark attack

Technorati Tags: bull shark,Exuma,Bahamas

INJURED – 12 May 2009 -- Ritdian Point, Guam – swimmer attacked

Guampdn reports that a 27-year-old-man was bitten on the arm while swimming at Ritdian Point, Guam, in the afternoon of 12 May 2009.

He was sent to Guam Memorial Hospital. According to sources at the hospital his wound was not life threatening, but he had lost a lot of blood.

He was due to have surgery on his arm that evening.

It was not known what type of shark it was.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

Guampdn

SCARED – 9 May 2009 – Cockburn Sound, Western Australia – fisherman harassed

 

This report – originally reported by Perth Now – tells of a fisherman’s horrifying ordeal with 4.5 metre great white. The incident happened at 7am on 9 May about 2 nautical miles form shore at Cockburn Sound, Western Australia.

 

A FISHERMAN came face-to-face with a massive great white shark after falling from his dinghy in Cockburn Sound in Western Australia yesterday morning.

PerthNow reports that the Rockingham man, aged in his 30s, fell into the sea as he tried to defend himself against a 4.5m shark that rammed his small aluminium fishing boat from behind at 7am.

In a terrifying chain of events described by sea rescue volunteers, the man tried to deter the shark from chewing on his outboard motor by hitting it on the nose with an oar.

But the man-eating monster grabbed the oar and as the fisherman attempted to retrieve it, he toppled into the water.

The boat, which the man was preparing to anchor, was still in gear and motored away from him towards shore, preventing him from climbing aboard.

The shark circled the man four or five times before he was able to flee. He began a frantic two nautical mile swim to shore and was picked up by a fisherman after half an hour.

Rockingham Sea Rescue volunteers recounted the man's terror at his narrow escape.

"He told us the dorsal fin was about the height of a table and the shark was about 4-5m long,'' said volunteer rescuer Colin Lowson.

"He said when he fell out of the boat, he was face-to-face with the shark. It was that close. "All he saw was a mass of white.''

The incident occurred just a few kilometres from where Port Kennedy man Brian Guest was taken by a 4m-5m white pointer in December 2008.

Guest, 56, was diving for crabs in just a few metres of water when he was taken by a giant shark.

According to the West Australian the 35-year-old man refused to speak to the press about his ordeal and requested police to retain his anonymity.

According to this report he told his rescuers he had tried to stay very still as the shark circled.

The incident occurred around 7am, west of Point Peron.

Police spokesman Samuel Dinnison said the man had been preparing to drop anchor when he heard a noise behind the boat.

“When he turned around he noticed a shark, described as a 4.5m white pointer, nibbling at the motor,” Mr Dinnison said.

“The man tried to push the shark away with an oar, and in the process dropped the oar in to the water, and fell overboard. The boat drifted away from him before he was able to climb back on board.

When he came ashore: “The guy was shaken up, very shaken up. It was a big shark and he came face to face with it,” said Lowson said.

Sources:

Perth Now

The West Australian

INJURED – 20 April 2009 – Mabini Town, Batangas province, Philippines – swimmer attacked

In a brief report on ABS CBN News says that a 23-year-old man - Gerald Perez - was bitten by a shark while swimming in the waters off Mabini town in Batangas province, Philippines early Monday morning – 20 April 2009.

He was swimming just a few metres from the shore when a shark bit his legs. Relatives rushed him to hospital where he was reported to have lost a lot of blood, but was in a stable condition.

No other details were reported.

Sources

ABS CBN News

INJURED – 20 April 2009 – beach off North Peninsula Drive, Volusia Country, Florida, US – surfer attacked

A 20-year-old man (name not released) was bitten on the right ankle while surfing in front of the Minorca Condominium, 2600 block of North Peninsula Drive, Volusia Country, Florida, US. His injuries were minor – just two or three puncture wounds, according to press reports.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, 20 April 2009.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

News Journal Online

INJURED – 19 April 2009 -- Carlin Park, Jupiter, Florida, US – surfer attacked

A man (name, age not released) was attacked by a shark while surfing just south of Carlin Park, Jupiter, Florida, US around 3.45pm on Sunday, 19 April 2009.

Witnesses said he may have lost two toes when the shark bit his foot.

The brief report said lifeguards wrapped his wounded foot in towels and paramedics treated him on the beach. He was taken to Jupiter Medical Center where he was reported in stable condition.

No other details were reported.

Source:

WPTV

 

Update: The surfer’s name is Bruce Clinker.

Reports that he lost two toes are not true.

Source: WPBF.TV

INJURED – 17 April 2009 – near FPL Nuclear Power Plant, Florida, US – surfer attacked

In a very brief report St. Lucie County Fire Rescue officials in Florida, US, said a surfer claimed he was bitten on the forearm by a shark while surfing about 1pm on Friday 17 April 2009.

He was surfing just south of the Florida Power & Light Co. Nuclear Power Plant.

The man was treated at the scene and told medics he’d drive himself to the hospital. His name or age were not released.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

TC Palm

INJURED – 4 April 2009 – Sanibel Island, Florida, US – swimmer attacked

Jack May, 15, was wading off the western shore of Sanibel island, Florida, US, in thigh deep water when a shark bit him on the foot. The incident occurred around 4pm in Saturday, 4 April 2009.

He suffered a deep cut to the top of his of his foot, but managed to limp back to shore where his mother bandaged the wound.

He was then taken to a hospital, where he received 28 stitches.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

Denver Post

The Denver Channel

Leigh Acres Citizen

INJURED – 27 March 2009 – Sunday’s River mouth, Eastern Cape, South Africa – fisherman attacked

 

Tony Dell, 59, was bitten on the calf by a ragged tooth shark while trying to measure the shark after it was caught by another angler about 2 kilometres up the Sunday’s River from its mouth in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The incident occurred on Friday 27 March 2009.

One of the fishermen was quoted as saying: “He was helping an angler to measure the Raggie when a wave came in and lifted the shark. The ragged tooth shark then spun around and bit Dell on the calf. It was not an attack, it was an accident.”

Dell was taken to the Greenacres hospital in Port Elizabeth where he was said to be in a stable condition and was due to be operated on.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

News24

FATAL – 20 March 2009 – Second Beach, Port St Johns, Transkei, South Africa – surfer attacked

Luyolo Mangele, 16, was attacked and killed by a shark while surfing at Second Beach, Port St Johns, Transkei, South Africa on Friday, 20 March 2009. Shark experts believe it was a tiger shark, after taking measurements of the bite marks.

Eyewitness Tim Whitaker told the Daily Dispatch newspaper: “I caught a wave out and was coming back to shore when I heard the guys on the beach shouting. I went to assist him (the teen who was attacked) but he fell off his surf board as he tried to walk. I hadn’t seen the shark and I really did not know what was going on.”

He said he only realised he had been bitten in the leg once they got him to the beach.

Another report says when he got to shore his surfing instructor and a life guard tried to stop the bleeding and called paramedics for help.

The teen died about 30 minutes after the attack, apparently from loss of blood.

Sources:

Daily Dispatch

CDNN

INJURED -- 18 March 2009 -- Ponce de Leon Inlet, Volusia County, Florida, USA -- surfer attacked

A 17-year-old girl was nipped by a shark while surfing at Ponce de Leon Inlet's south Jetty, Volusia County, Florida, USA. The wound was minor and did not require stitches. The incident occurred on Wednesday, 18 March 2009.

No other details were reported.

Source:

UPI

SCARED -- 19 March 2009 -- North Broulee Beach near Bateman's Bay, New South Wales, Australia -- surfer attacked

A brief report on 19 March says a woman was attacked while surfing at North Broulee Beach near Bateman's Bay, New South Wales, Australia. The shark bit the nose of her board while she was paddling out in waist deep water. It then let go and disappeared. Teeth marks were left in the nose of the board.

The incident happened around 7.45am on 19 March 2009.

The surfer (name and age not released) was not injured.

The type of shark responsible has not been identified.

Locals told media the water at the beach was the warmest it had been this year and that there had been a lot of fish activity recently.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

Adelaide Now

INJURED – 16 March 2009 -- Alenuihaha Channel between the Big Island and Maui, Hawaii – swimmer attacked

Mike Spalding, 61, was bitten on the left calf by what is believed to be a cookie-cutter shark while swimming the nearly 30-mile wide Alenuihaha Channel between the Big Island and Maui, Hawaii.

The shark left a 3-inch-diameter, 1-inch-deep wound on the back of his left leg.

Spalding was about 4 1/2 hours and 11 miles into crossing the channel about 8 pm when he was bitten.

He said he first felt a sharp pain on his sternum, which turned out to be a superficial wound. Nevertheless, he immediately began moving to a kayak accompanying him.

About 15 seconds later, "I got hit in the calf," he said. "It was such a disappointment because I knew the swim was over. I was bleeding profusely."

Spalding scrambled into the kayak, the bottom of which began to quickly fill with blood. Bubba McLean, who was paddling the kayak, called a nearby support boat for help. Spalding was taken to the Kihei Small Boat Ramp, where his wife drove him to Maui Memorial Medical Center.

"I'm a glutton for water time," he said. "I was in a zone. ... I was in pig heaven. And then this thing happens."

Spalding is a well-known open-ocean swimmer.

Sources:

Honolulu Advertiser

INJURED – 2 March 2009 – Cape Point, Western Cape, South Africa – fisherman attacked

Gabriel Fernandez, 40, the skipper of a tuna fishing boat was bitten by a one metre blue shark as he pulled it aboard the boat after hooking it. The boat was about 30 miles off the west coast of Cape Point when Fernandez was bitten. He received lacerations on two fingers on his right hand and a 6cm gash on his right arm. The incident happened on Monday, 2 March 2009.

“I was pulling the shark in - and it turned around and bit me instead.
“It was a blue shark and was just over a metre long,” he told media.

He was brought ashore at Hout Bay by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and taken to Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic.

Brad Geyser, station commander of the Hout Bay NSRI, told media: “They were catching tuna when they hooked a shark,” he said.
“They were trying to disentangle it from the side of the boat and it leapt out of the water and bit him.”

Source

IOL

INJURED – 26 January 2009 – Surf Beach, near Bateman’s Bay, New South Wales, Australia – swimmer/surfer attacked

In a very brief report in Adelaide Now on 19 March – it says on Saturday, January 26 a man was apparently bitten by a shark at Surf Beach, three beaches north of North Broulee Beach -- New South Wales, Australia.

The man left the surf about 4.30pm with gashes on his hand and also wounds which looked like those left by a shark's abrasive skin.

He did not see what caused the wounds and was treated by lifeguards.

No other details are reported.

Sources:

Adelaide Now

INJURED – 1 March 2009 – Avalon Beach, Sydney, Australia – surfer attacked

A teenage boy, name not released, was bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing with his father off Avalon Beach in Sydney, Australia. The incident happened early morning Sunday, 1 March 2009.

“The father heard a scream and turned to see his son thrashing about in the water. Fortunately the shark swam away and the boy was helped to shore by his father,” police said in a statement.

They said the bites on his leg cut through to the bone, but the boy did not appear to have sustained any fractures.

He was airlifted to hospital.

More details are expected later.

Source

Reuters

 

Update (2 March):  The boy is 15 and his name is Andrew Lindop. He is reportedly recovering well at the Royal North Shore Hospital.

INJURED – 22 February 2009 – Batt Reef, Cairns, Queensland, Australia – fisherman attacked

In a brief report The Australian says man was bitten while fishing at Batt Reef about 10.15am on 22 February 2009. Batt Reef is off the Queensland coast near Cairns, Australia.

The report says paramedics met his boat at Yorkeys Knob Marina, north of Cairns, about an hour after the attack and took him to Cairns Base Hospital in a stable condition.

It said it was not clear if he lost his finger in the attack.

No other details were reported.

Sources

The Australian

CLOSE SHAVE – 18 February 2009 -- Shelly Beach near Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia – surfer attacked

Technorati Tags: shark attack,Shelly Beach,Port Macquarie,bump,tiger shark,surfer

Glen Lockery (no age but has been surfing for 24 years) was bumped hard by shark while sitting on his board about 10 metres from shore waiting for waves in murky water at Shelly Beach near Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. The incident happened around 5pm on Wednesday 18 February 2009.

"I was sitting out the back on my own and just got hit from below,'' he told media. The shark hit his board so hard it flipped up and hit him in the face.

Lockery said he saw the shark, which was about twice as wide as his surfboard.

"People have told me that when it comes from the deep it is either a great white or a tiger. It lifted the board and broke the nose,'' he said.

He screamed and paddled for the rocks. He was uninjured, although the nose of his board was broken.

Sources:

Daily Telegraph

Pic Source:

Daily Telegraph

CLOSE SHAVE – reported 31 December 2008 – Seal Rocks, North Coast New South Wales, Australia – surfer attacked

Technorati Tags: Boogie board,bronze whaler,Seal Rocks,Australia

A 10-year-old Boogie boarder Bayden Schumann had a close brush with a shark which bit off the top end of one of his swim fins, missing his toes by millimetres. He was completely unaware of the attack and only noticed a large piece of the swim fin missing when he got back on his board.

The incident was reported in the Great Lakes Advocate on 31 December 2008. It happened while he was surfing at Seal Rocks, North Coast New South Wales, Australia.

“I was just catching one of my last waves. I didn’t feel anything; I went through the wave and half my flipper was gone,” he said.

His father who was on the beach said: “He gave me his flipper, and went straight back out. I noticed two teeth marks on the top, then turned it and saw two more with scratches leading to them,” he said.

“I’ve tried to tear the material, but you can’t. It’s too strong.”

No-one thought much of it, until two hours later.

“We went to the next beach along. I looked down – I was pretty high up – and saw a seven-foot bronzey (bronze whaler shark) chasing whiting,” he said.

Sources:

Great Lakes Advocate

Pic Source

Great Lakes Advocate

INJURED – 12 February 2009 – Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia – surfer attacked

A 23-year-old surfer was attacked by shark while surfing at the southern end of Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The surfer (name not immediately released) was bitten on the left hand and arm, according to media reports.

The incident occurred around 7.30pm on Thursday, 12 February 2009.

“He said he felt a tug on his arm. When he looked down he saw a bad bite on his left hand and arm,” a police spokesman was quoted as saying.

He yelled for help and nearby surfers assisted him to shore. Some off-duty doctors on the beach helped stem the bleeding.

A witness on the beach told ABC news: “He was conscious, his eyes were open, he was very pale and looked quite distressed.”

He was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for surgery.

It is the second shark attack in Sydney’s waters in two days.

A navy diver lost his right hand after being bitten by a shark the previous day during a training exercise in Sydney Harbour.

Sources

Reuters

ABC News

INJURED – 11 February 2009 – Woolloomooloo Bay, Sydney Harbour, Australia -- diver attacked

Navy diver Paul Degelder, 31, was attacked by what is thought to be a bull shark, while on a navy diver training exercise at Woolloomooloo Bay in Sydney Harbour, Australia. He tried to fight off the shark, but suffered severe injuries to his right hand and leg, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The attack occurred just before 7am on Wednesday, 11 February 2009.

He was taken to St Vincents Hospital where he was reported in a stable, but serious condition.

The Australian Navy considers the harbour to be low risk regarding sharks and frequently conducts training exercises in the harbour.

However, fishing tour operators told the newspaper they had seen many sharks – bull sharks, tigers, hammerheads - on a daily basis in the harbour over the past couple of months – many more than they had seen at this time of year in previous years.

Sources:

Sydney Morning Herald

INJURED – 7 February 2009 -- Kina Beach, South Island, New Zealand – swimmer attacked

A brief report in the New Zealand Herald and other media say a 47-year-old man was attacked by a shark while swimming of Kina Beach about 70km from the city Nelson on the South Island of New Zealand. He suffered deep wounds to his torso, with possible internal injuries.

The incident occurred at about 3.30pm on Saturday, 9 February 2009.

He was flown to Nelson hospital by helicopter where he was reported in a stable condition.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

New Zealand Herald

News24

BUMPED – 7 February 2009 -- Cellito beach New South Wales, Australia – surfer attacked

Durwin Keg, 41, was surfing at Cellito beach on Australia’s New South Wales mid-north coast when his board was bumped by a great white shark.

The incident occurred on Saturday, 7 February 2009.

He told media: “I just looked around and saw this huge shadow, probably about four metres away from me.

“Straight away I knew it was a shark. He was just sitting under there watching me.”

He began to make his way back to shore – calmly and quickly, but within a few strokes, he turned and saw the shark following him.

“I knew it was after me,” he said. “I started moving and I could see him going behind me.”

Keg paddled as hard as he could as the shark began closing in.

Moments later it struck with all its force into Keg’s board.

“He just came up and lifted me to try throw me off my board,” he said.

Keg said he clung to his board, trying to stay above water. The shark then tried to attack a second time.

“This time he came right up out of the water to flick me off,” he said.

As he came within centimetres of the shark, which had torpedoed most of its body out of the water, Keg was certain he was going to die.

“I was on my own, I was too far out,” he said.

Screaming to his mates to get out of the surf, he began wildly throwing punches at the shark which eventually moved off.

He made it back to the beach unharmed.

Sources:

Melbourne Herald Sun

Photo source:
Melbourne Herald Sun

Keg describes his ordeal - "I was sure i was going to die..."

FATAL – 24 January 2009 – Port St Johns, East Coast, South Africa – swimmer attacked

Lifeguard, Sikhanyiso Bangilizwe, 26 was killed by a shark while swimming off Second Beach at Port St Johns on the Wild Coast, South Africa.

He suffered three bites from what is believed to be a 2.5 metre Zambezi (Bull) shark.

The incident occurred on Saturday 24 January 2009. Bangilizwe was off duty when the attack occurred.

Tshintshekile Nduve, a fellow lifeguard, had been swimming with Bangilizwe at 1.30pm was quoted as saying he heard the cries of his friend and saw that he was in trouble with the shark on him. “ I saw blood and I went out of the water to get help,” he said.

Sources:

Wavescape

INJURED – 12 January 2009 – Windang Bridge, Lake Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia – snorkeller attacked

Steven Fogarty, 24, was bitten on the calf by what is believed to be a Bull shark, while snorkelling under the Windang Bridge on Lake Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia. The incident occurred around 10.50am on Monday, 12 January 2009.

An ambulance spokesperson said he was swimming in a school of fish when he noticed a brown shadow behind him. His leg was then bitten. “He punched the brown shadow and it let go.”

He suffered around 40 puncture wounds to his calf, but there was no muscle or tissue damage. He had some abrasions to his right fist where he punched shark.

He swam to nearby mudflats where he flagged down a boat. He was taken to Shellharbour Hospital and was reported in a stable condition.

This was the third shark attack in Australia in two days.

INJURED Binalong Bay 11 January 2009

INJURED Fingal Head 11 January 2009

Sources:

The Age

INJURED – 11 January 2009 -- Binalong Bay, near St Helens, Tasmania – surfer attacked

In a second shark attack in Australia in the same day, a 13-year-old girl, Hannah Mighall, was bitten on the lower right leg by a 5-metre white pointer shark while surfing with her male cousin at Baileys Rocks, Binalong Bay, near St Helens, Tasmania. The incident occurred around 3.45pm on Sunday, 11 January 2009.

The shark dragged the girl underwater twice before the cousin, in a remarkable act of bravery, reached the scene on his surfboard and hit the shark which was latched onto the girl’s leg. The shark let go and he put her on his surfboard and paddled with her to shore. The shark kept circling them as they made their way to the beach.

A policeman is quoted as saying the cousin, Syb Mundy, a man in his 20s from Queensland, managed to pull the teenager onto his surfboard and began to paddle towards the shore. But the shark followed and circled the frightened pair as they frantically paddled towards shore. At one stage they caught a wave, but the shark was in the same wave

Ian Hollingsworth was surfing 20 to 40 metres away and saw the attack, and the efforts of the girl’s male cousin to protect her.

“It was basically a scene out of 'Jaws',” he told the media.

“The shark went around and I saw it actually come out of the water and hit her.

“It then went around, I believe I saw her going backwards, and she was screaming.

“The guy was just fighting to save her. All the time the shark was circling.”

Hollingsworth says he then helped the cousin apply first aid.

“We carried her up onto the beach,” he said.

“I got the leg rope off the surfboard and put a tourniquet around her leg, then I raced up to the car because I knew I had a lot of towels in the car, and we bandaged her leg, and we just got her stabilised on the beach.”

The policeman said there was a significant bite out of the surfboard.
“I understand there was a fair bit of blood in the water.”

He said when she was brought ashore “she was really calm, she was brave, probably in a little bit of shock. There were no tears.”

He said the actions of the teenager’s cousin had saved her life.

The teenager was airlifted to a hospital in Hobart. Her injuries were not expected to be life threatening.

Sources:

Adelaide Now

ABC

Sky News

INJURED – 11 January 2009 – Fingal Head, New South Wales, Australia – surfer attacked

Jonathon Beard, a 31-year-old surfer, was bitten on the left thigh by a shark while surfing about 70 metres offshore of South Fingal beach, New South Wales, Australia. The attack occurred around 9.30am (local time) on Sunday,11 January 2009.

A lifeguard at the scene said the man was surfing with three friends when he was attacked.

"Witnesses indicate that there were a number of dolphins close to the group ... and the next minute there was a violent splashing in the water,” the lifeguard said.

The shark attack left a 40-centimetre wound between the knee and his left hip

"The good news is that no major arteries or bones were destroyed."

The victim’s surfer friends brought him to shore and used the leg rope as a tourniquet and applied towels to stem the bleeding.

The victim was airlifted to Gold Coast Hospital where he was reported in a stable condition.

The type of shark was not known.

Sources:

Sydney Morning Herald

ABC

Photo credit:

Adelaide Now

INJURED – 6 January 2009 -- Tukituki river mouth Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand – swimmer attacked

Greg Sims, 49, was swimming with his partner just south of the Tukituki River mouth, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand when he was bitten on the upper thigh by a shark. The attack occurred around 5.30pm on Tuesday, 6 January 2009.

Experts believe the shark may have been Broadnose Sevengill Shark – “a common large coastal shark species, which is most abundant near shore at this time of year”.

“I felt a sharp, painful bite on the back of my leg and couldn't leave the surf fast enough,” Sims told media.

“I screamed at Pauline (his partner) to get out of the water, she just stood there not comprehending what had happened.”

Sims used his towel as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before the two drove to Hawke's Bay Hospital.

“I saw nothing at all. Nothing broke the water so there was no warning and no sighting. We thought maybe it was a stingray, but from what we know they leave a sharp whip-like laceration, but this wound is the shape of a bite, and has taken a chunk of flesh away so we think it was a shark,” Sims said.

Sources:

Hawke’s Bay Today

Photo credit:

Hawke’s Bay Today

FATAL – 27 December 2008 -- Port Kennedy, Western Australia – snorkeller attacked

Brian Guest, 51 was fatally attacked by what is presumed a Great White shark while snorkelling for crabs with his son in about 3 metres of water at Port Kennedy beach, Western Australia. The incident occurred around 7am on Saturday 27 December 2008. Guest’s body was never recovered despite several air and sea searches. Police found pieces of wetsuit believed to have been worn by Guest.

Witnesses on the beach told of seeing a 'flash of fin' but local man Luke Tubbs, who lives near the beach, described a horrific scene in which the shark could be seen with Guest’s body in its jaws, according to media reports.

While he did not witness the event personally, he said it had been described to him by another man who had run to his home to raise the alarm.

“He told me he just saw a big splash and then the shark roll over in the water with the guy -- and then (he saw) no body or anything.”

Guest’s son was swimming some 20 feet from his father when the shark struck and while Daniel is understood not to have witnessed the actual attack, he realised his father was in trouble when he saw the water turn red with blood. He swam quickly to the beach, shouting for help.

Guest’s family asked for the shark to be left alone to 'respect' nature.

Sources:

Courier Mail

Daily Mail

INJURED – reported 20 December 2008 – Maraetai, near Auckland, New Zealand – fisherman attacked

Ken Lindberg spent five days in hospital after suffering injuries to his lower leg after being bitten by a shark while fishing with a friend off Maraetai, near Auckland, New Zealand. The date of the attack was not reported.

“We were just checking the net, just walking along lifting the top up a bit,” he told media.

“The next thing I felt this almighty clamp go around my leg. I said to Jeremy, 'We're out of here'.”

Lindberg said his left leg started to tighten up as the pair waded back through the surf but was only able to look when they reached shallow water.

“All I could see was this almighty gash and a lot of blood pouring out. I thought, 'All I want to do is get back to shore'.”

He made it back to his friend's house where a towel was wrapped around the wounds to stop the flow of blood.

His friend's wife then took him to Beachlands Medical Centre from where he was taken to hospital. He received 10 stitches above his ankle, four stitches to close his severed Achilles tendon and will not regain any feeling around his little toe, according to media.

New Zealand Department of Conservation shark expert Clinton Duffy said if Lindberg’s wounds were the work of a shark it was probably a bronze whaler.

While they don’t usually attack humans, it could have been attracted to Lindberg’s fishing spot if there were distressed fish in the net. “That would be enough to attract a shark into the area looking for a feed.”

Duffy described such shark attacks as “slash and run attacks” that usually target a person’s hands and legs.

Sources:

New Zealand Herald

FATAL – 10 November 2008 – high seas off Taiwan – seaman attacked

A brief report from Reuters says 18 seamen were declared missing and another was killed by a shark after their fishing boat was swamped by high waves off Taiwan on Monday 10 November 2008, according to Taiwan’s coast guard. The coast guard had rescued another nine crew members from the boat.

High winds whipped up huge waves, forcing the crew to send a distress signal from 80km south of Kaohsiung near the southern tip of Taiwan, a coastguard spokesperson said.

"The ocean conditions were terrible," he said. "The waves were so big they just inundated the boat."

He said one crew member was killed by a shark but gave no other details.

Source
Alert Net

FATAL – 6 November 2008 – deep sea off Paoay town, Ilocos Norte, Philippines – fisherman attacked

Joel Bacud, 39, was attacked and killed by a shark while fishing in deep sea some three hours offshore of Paoay town in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The attacked occurred on 6 November 2008.

Bacud was fishing with his 17-year-old son Louie in their motorized banca when the elder Bacud dived in deep water to check on their fishing net.

A shark suddenly sprung and attacked the elder Bacud, Paoay town police chief Senior Inspector Dexter Corpuz told the Philippine Star.

The victim’s son, who was unhurt, brought his father’s body to shore in the banca.

The shark bit Bacud’s back, particularly on the right side, his right arm had a big wound while his upper torso had nine lacerations from the shark’s teeth, according to the report.

The father and son went fishing around 5am and the attack happened around 10 to 11am local time.

He told the newspaper that the elder Bacud jumped from the motorized banca with some bloodied fish catch which apparently drew the shark’s attention.

Sources:

Philippine Star

INJURED – 14 September 2008 -- Ocean Shore Boulevard, Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida, USA– swimmer attacked

A 32-year-old man was bitten on the heel by a shark while swimming swimming off the 1000 block of Ocean Shore Boulevard in Ormond-by-the-Sea, Volusia County, Florida, USA. His injuries were minor and would “probably require just a few sutures,” said a beach official at the scene.

The incident occurred on 14 September 2008.

The man, whose name was not released, was swimming in waist-deep water when a wave knocked him from his feet. While his feet were off the bottom, the swimmer felt something grab his heel. He received two minor lacerations.

Officials said that based on the pattern of bite-mark, the shark was most likely a 2- to 3-foot juvenile shark.

Sources:

News Journal Online

INJURED – 9 September 2008 – Kahana Bay, Ka'a'awa, Oahu, Hawaii – surfer attacked

Todd Murashige, 40, suffered deep lacerations right round his right thigh after he was bitten by a shark while sitting on his surfboard in Kahana Bay, Ka'a'awa Oahu, Hawaii, on 9 September 2008.

He told media that he put his fingers in the shark’s mouth to pry himself free from its jaws and that the shark took no further interest in him after that.

"I didn't see it at all. It just seemed so surreal, like it wasn't real, just head of a shark right there in my lap," he said.

"I stuck my fingers into his mouth to try to pry him off, but I didn't feel any teeth. I think I was grabbing onto his gums or the lip part," he said.

Murashige said the shark didn't pursue him, and thinks it was a test bite, "because he never came back to me, and really aggressively never really bit me and shook me. He just took a test bite and it wasn't too good tasting."

After freeing himself, Murashige managed to get back to shore on his board, which was missing a piece from the bite, by paddling and catching a wave. He also had the help of a fellow surfer who staunched the bleeding until paramedics arrived.

Once on solid ground, a towel was used to tie off the wounded thigh and a call was placed to 911.

"While I was lying on the shore, I thought I was going to black out," Murashige said. "I told myself if I black out, I'm going to die. That's what I really felt in my gut, so I called my wife and I called my mom."

Murashige was taken to Queen's Medical Center.

Since he didn't see the shark's body, Murashige said he didn't know what kind it was or how big it was. But based on the size of its head — Murashige raised his hands about the width of his shoulders — he suspects it was a tiger shark.

Murashige lost a lot of blood, with the wound going almost all around the thigh, but there were no broken bones and his prognosis is good.

Sources:

KITV

WTOL

SCARED – 7 September 2008 -- Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia – surfer scared

John Morgan, 51, said a large shark became entangled in his surfboard leash and dragged him for about 50 metres like a "powerful jet ski", about 300 metres offshore of Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. He was not injured in the incident but said he was “freaked” out.

The incident occurred around midday on Sunday 7 September 2008.

"I had just come off a wave when I saw a large swirl of water," Morgan told the Northern Star newspaper.

"I was then suddenly hauled backwards ... like I was riding behind a powerful jet ski."

Morgan said he laid down on his longboard as the shark, which he estimated was about three metres long, dragged him about 50 metres.

"I think the shark was as scared as I was,” he told media.

Sources:

Sydney Morning Herald

INJURED – 7 September 2008 – Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida, US – 2 surfers attacked

Two surfers were bitten a shark or shark almost simultaneously ay Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida, US around noon on Sunday 7 September.

A 43-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were surfing about 200 feet away from each other when they were bitten. The surfers, who did not know each other, were catching waves in the area between Beach Street and the jetty rocks. They each suffered "very minor" puncture wounds on one foot and were treated by Beach Patrol at the scene.

Beach Patrol Captain Scott Petersohn said: "It's just a weird coincidence. One of the surfers asked for help at a lifeguard tower. A Beach Patrol truck was called in, and while officers were on their way to the tower, they spotted another surfer on the beach bleeding from his foot and thought it was the victim they were originally called to treat.”

No other details were reported.

Sources:
News Journal Online

INJURED – 2 September 2008 (reported) – Lundy Island, near Devon, UK – angler attacked

In a rather strange story, angler Stephen Perkins, 52, was bitten by a shark that he had just caught while he was holding it to pose for a photograph. The Blue shark sunk its teeth into his forearm causing deep puncture wounds.

He was flown to North Devon District Hospital and underwent extensive reconstructive surgery on his arm.

Perkins told media: “We don't harm the sharks when we hook them. We just take a picture and put them back in the water but the one I got was pretty lively and put his jaw around my wrist then let go.”

Sources:
Daily Mail

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

Alexander Zgura was sitting on his board in the surf near the jetty on the New Smyrna Beach side of Ponce de Leon Inlet just before 11 am when a shark grabbed him by the lower left leg.

The shark was about six feet long according to Zgura.

According to beach officials Zgura appeared to suffer two bites between the knee and ankle causing about 13 to 15 separate lacerations, which would have required stitches. However, he declined transport to Bert Fish Medical Center, saying he would go by private vehicle.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
News Journal Online

INJURED – 24 August 2008 – New Smyrna Beach, Florida, US – surfer attacked

According to a brief report from Fox News – a shark bit 20-year-old Jacob Shoup’s left foot about 3 pm Sunday 24 August 2008 while he was swimming out to catch a wave, his surfboard in tow.

Shoup suffered four lacerations to his foot and instep. His friends took him to a Bert Fish Medical Center for treatment. Lifeguards said he was expected to be OK.

Sources:

Fox News

INJURED – 20 August 2008 – Cape Coral, Florida, US -- swimmer attacked

Jack Miller, 47, says he was bitten by a shark on the forearm while swimming with his son near the Sanibel moorings, near Cape Coral, Florida, US. The incident happened around 2.45pm on Wednesday, 20 August 2008.

The report said he did not seek medical attention for the three lacerations on his forearm.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
News Press

INJURED - 12 August 2008 - New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA -- swimmer attacked

A 13-year-old girl (name not released) was swimming in waist to chest deep water off New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA on Tuesday 12 August 2008, when she was bitten on the right leg by a shark.

Officials said she suffered several small puncture wounds and one gash of about three inches between her ankle and her knee.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

Orlando Sentinel

INJURED -- 23 July 2008 -- New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, US -- surfer attacked

 

A 15-year-old boy (name not released) was bitten on the foot by a shark on Wednesday 23 July 2008 while surfing near the inlet Jetty in New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, United States.

Lifeguards said he jumped off his surfboard in chest deep water and onto the shark, which retaliated by biting his foot.

He was taken to hospital and received several stitches for lacerations on his foot.

A beach witness told media: "He was bleeding real good but they had him wrapped up, but he had some deep lacerations on the top of his foot as well as the bottom."

No other details were reported.

Sources: Central Florida News 13

INJURED – 11 July 2008 – Isle of Palms, Charleston, South Carolina, US – swimmer attacked

A brief report in the Daily Comet says a 24-year-old man (name not released) was bitten by a shark on the forearm while swimming off the Isle of Palms, near Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The incident occurred around 2pm on Friday 11 July 2008.

The man was taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Daily Comet

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

INJURED – 21 March 2008 -- New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, US – wader attacked

A 13-year-old boy received two deep gashes to his ankle from a shark bite while wading in thigh-deep water at New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, US, on Friday afternoon 21 March 2008.

The boy, whose name was not reported, was treated on the beach by beach patrol officials and then taken to hospital for stitches.

No other details were reported.

Sources:

WESH
Tampabays10

FATAL – 24 February 2008 – Bahamas (update from Florida attack report) – diver attacked

New reports clarify the report of a diver who was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital on Sunday 24 February 2008, after being bitten by a shark. The updated reports say he was bitten on the leg while diving off the Bahamas and died of his wounds.

Markus Groh, 49, an Austrian lawyer on vacation, was doing an open water shark diving trip organised by Scuba Adventures off the Bahamas in the Caribbean. He was reportedly bitten on the leg during the dive. He was airlifted from the diving boat Shearwater to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida where he was pronounced dead on Monday 25 February.

There was not report detailing the extent of his injuries.

It was unclear what type of shark was involved in the attack.

The Deeper Blue website reports that the Shearwater was owned and operated by Jim Abernethy a pioneer of open water diving with sharks with more than 35 years of experience diving with sharks. This was apparently the “first reported fatality resulting from an incident between a shark and a scuba diver during a commercially organised shark diving expedition”.

Sources:
Deeper Blue
Associated Press

FATAL – August 2005 (Inquest 25 February 2008) – Glenelg, South Australia - diver attacked

A report out of Adelaide, Australia on 25 February 2008, relates details of an inquest into the fatal shark attack on Jarrod Stehbens, 23, at Glenelg, South Australia in August 2005.

Shark Attack Monitor reported the incident in August 2005.

Stehbens was diving with Justin Rowntree. The pair was doing research for the University of Adelaide.

Rowntree told the Coroner’s Court: “I was looking at Jarrod when I felt a whack on the back which rotated me around.

“Initially I thought it was a dolphin but pretty quickly I realised it was not.”

He said Stehbens was a highly experienced diver who fought for his life against the five meter Great White shark.

“It went straight towards Jarrod, initially he whacked it directly on the snout and it seemed to go away momentarily,” Rowntree said.

“Then it came back and took his leg and dragged him under ... it happened like a flash.”

He said it would have been Stehbens’ last dive in South Australia before he went to live in Germany.

Sources:
Daily Telegraph

INJURED – 24 February 2008 – Deep water off Broward Country, Florida, US – diver attacked

In a brief early report from the Miami Herald and WPTV, a 50-year-old man was bitten by a shark while diving in waters off Broward County, Florida, US. The attack took place on Sunday 24 February 2008.

The unidentified man was airlifted from the commercial diving vessel, Sheer Dimensions, about 50 miles east of Fort Lauderdale. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The boat is believed to belong to a diving operator specialising in shark dives. It was not known if the victim was attacked during a shark dive.

The crew of the air rescue helicopter said they received the call around 10am, local time.

There were no details reported regarding the extent of the diver’s injuries or what type of shark it was.

Sources:
Miami Herald
WPTV

INJURED – 15 February 2008 – Ponce De Leon Inlet, Volusia County, Florida, US – surfer attacked

A 25-year-old surfer (the man was not named) was bitten on the left foot while surfing about 200 metres south of Ponce de Leon Inlet's south jetty about 5pm on Friday, 15 February 2008.

A rescue official said he did have some lacerations, but nothing life-threatening. He was bandaged and drove himself to Bert Fish Medical Center.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Daytona Beach News Journal

INJURED - 21 February 2008 - Tahiti - Spearfisherman attacked

A very brief report on 21 February 2008 from ITN says a Tahitian spearfisherman, Apia Hauata, 26, was bitten by a shark on the face while spearfishing in a coral lagoon. The date and place of the attack are not reported.

The report says relatives took him to a local hospital where doctors stitched up his wounds.

Dr Ronan Richard is quoted as saying Hauata had fish that he had caught all around him when the attack happened.

"He suffered considerable wounds to the face including to the jaw and lower-lip with several punctures to the skin," the doctor said, but was expected to make a full recovery.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Independent Television News

Photo source:
Independent Television News

SCARED - 7 February 2008 - Horseshoe Bay, NSW, Australia - surfer attacked

Fiona Casey, 14, was bumped on her arm by a one metre shark while paddling out to a surf break in Horseshoe Bay, NSW, Australia. She was not injured as her wetsuit protected her from abrasions from the shark skin. However, she was reportedly shocked and received a lame arm after the incident.

The incident happened on Thursday 7 February 2008.

Fiona said she was paddling back out to the break after catching a wave when she felt something hit her arm hard.

She lashed out and hit the one-metre shark with her elbow.

She said she didn’t leave the water after the incident.

“I was scared but the waves were just too good.”

Sources:
The Macleay Argus

INJURED – 6 February 2008 – Brevard County, Florida, US – surfer attacked

A surfer, not named, was reportedly bitten on the foot by a shark while surfing near Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, Florida, US. The incident occurred on Wednesday 6 February 2008.

According to witness Jon Humphrey, 33, the man refused treatment.

Humphrey, 33, told Local 6 News partner Florida Today that he and a friend paddled out about 50 to 100 feet off the beach when another surfer near them began shouting, "Shark!"

Humphrey said he looked up and the guy was "punching a shark that was on his foot."

"He got onto the beach and was holding his foot," said Humphrey, who along with his friend grabbed a T-shirt and wrapped the man's foot. He said the wound appeared to be bad enough to require stitches.

Humphrey said the shark appeared to be about 3 feet long.

No other details were reported.

Sources:
Local 6.com

INJURED – 27 January 2008 – offshore, Coolangatta, Australia – fisherman attacked

A 20-year-old Australian fisherman suffered deep lacerations to his right calf after being bittern by a 3-metre Mako shark. The incident happened after the shark was reeled aboard a tuna boat, some 100 nautical miles off Coolangatta, Australia.

The 90kg shark whipped around and bit him on the right calf when he stepped on its tail, according to media reports.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted a spokesman for RACQ CareFlight, which was called to airlift the man hospital, as saying: “There’s a few hands on the deck and they could not release the shark from the leg at all until they had cut the shark’s head off.”

“It was locked on. The bite has gone down to the bone.

“I've seen a photo of the wound and it's pretty messy.”

The man (not named) was reported in a stable condition and due to undergo emergency surgery in The Gold Coast Hospital at the time of this blog.

Paramedic Darrin Hatchman said the victim was lucky to be alive because the bite narrowly missed major blood vessels and arteries at the back of the knee.

“If it had have been a couple of millimetres either way, and a little bit more of a voracious bite, it would've been a real mercy dash to stop him from bleeding out,” Hatchman told ABC Radio.

Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald

INJURED – 21 December 2007 – San Cristobal Island, Galapagos islands – surfer attacked

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

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