FATAL – 7 January 2006 - Amity Point, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia – swimmer attacked

Sarah Whiley, 21, was attacked by three bull sharks while swimming with friends at Amity Point, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia. The sharks struck the victim at about 5.30pm local time.

Within seconds they had torn off both the woman's arms and savagely mauled her torso and legs.Two fishermen were the first to react, dragging her out of the water onto the beach.Frantic bystanders scrambled for towels to stem the bleeding before a helicopter rushed the stricken woman to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital where she died of shock and massive blood loss, The Australian reported.

Inspector Peter Harding told media Whiley had been swimming with three friends from a church group when she was attacked.

"She went down under the water ... after about five or six seconds the deceased came out of the water and screamed `Shark' and of course people at the time thought she was only joking ... until they saw the blood.

"She was bleeding quite heavily – I'm of the opinion of what I've seen and what I've been told, there was more than one shark involved, there could have been up to three," he said.

The Australian quoted Insp Harding as saying that after Friday night's storm – the water was very murky and dirty, in fact so much so one of the locals of there wouldn't go in and dive.

He added that the woman was swimming in water "anything from chest-deep to 30 feet".

Sources:
The Australian
The Mercury

INJURED – 1 January 2006 – Soetwater, Cape Peninsula, South Africa – free diver attacked

John Williams, 49, was bitten on his little finger by a 1.5 metre shark while free diving for crayfish 250 metres offshore of Soetwater near Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. The attack took place on New Year’s Day 2006.

He told rescue workers he was holding a crayfish when the shark lunged at him, biting him on the little finger. He managed to swim ashore.

He was admitted to False Bay Hospital and received stitches.

Source:
Cape Argus

INJURED - 24 December 2005 - Tillamook Head, Oregon, United States - surfer attacked

Brian Anderson, 36, was bitten on the ankle and calf while surfing at a popular surfing spot near Tillamook Head, south of the community of Seaside, about 80 miles northwest of Portland, Oregon, United States.

He said he fended off a Great White shark by punching it in the nose.

He told media: "It's like your worst nightmare, an adventure which has made life that much more precious and interesting.

"It felt like getting clamped in a bear trap," he said. "It was a piercing pain and then it went numb."

When the shark grabbed hold of he is leg he repeatedly punched it on the nose until it finally let go. He paddled back to shore and pulled himself up on to the rocks. Other surfers called 911. He was admitted to Providence Seaside Hospital, treated and released later that night.

Source:
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

INJURED - 22 ? December 2005 - Keawakapu Beach, Maui, Hawaii - swimmer attacked

Jonathan Genant, 29, from Seattle, lost his left little finger and part of his ring finger when the shark bit into his hand while he was swimming at Keawakapu Beach, Maui, Hawaii.

Reports of the date of the attack are vague. A report on Wednesday 28 December 2005 claimed the attack happened “last week” putting it anywhere between the 18th and 25th.

Reports did not mention the type of shark responsible for the attack.

Genant told media: “You're in a panic mode. You're thinking, 'God -- OK, I'm bleeding all over the place,' and you just don't know if you're going to be hit again, you're so vulnerable. But if he hit me again, that would have been it. After about 20 seconds or so, I realised I've got a shot here to get back."

Genant said he gripped the wrist of his injured arm to slow the blood loss, flipped on his back and began to swim. But without the use of his arms, he said he could only drift.

When he realised that the shark could come back he began to yell for help.

Hal Bringeland, from Surrey, who was boogie boarding on Keawakapu Beach at the time went to the rescue when he heard the shouting.

He told media: "You know it's hard to tell exactly what was going on. It looked like he was holding up a red snorkel.

"So I piled into the water and you know we were probably two thirds of the way out there, and then we could see this wasn't just a snorkel, and he confirmed it when we got there.

"He said that he had been bit by a shark. So we made it our priority to get out of the water."

Bringeland and the other rescuer helped Genant out of the water. He was taken to hospital for surgery.

Sources:
MSNBC
CBC California

New shark species found in Gulf of California

Practical Fishing magazine reports that

"Ichthyologists have described a new species of shark from the Gulf of California.

The new shark is a member of the Smoothhound shark group and has been named Mustelus hacat by a team of Mexican scientists who have recently reported their findings in the ichthyological journal Copeia."

More...

FRIGHTENED - Atlantic Ocean - 19 December 2005 - rowers boat attacked

A pair of rowers from New Zealand taking part in the Atlantic Rowing Race were frightened by three-metre shark which attacked their rowing boat, bumping it and biting parts of it for more than 15 minutes.

The team’s shore manager released this report:

Monday, 19 December 2005

At sea. Atlantic Rowing Race: Shark Attack Team Sun Latte

In the early hours of the morning New Zealand time Team Sun Latte was attacked by a shark. Tara said on the Tech Rentals phone this morning that it circled the boat for a short time before making its attack, bunting into the boat sending it rocking. Iain and Tara didn’t muck around and got into the well of the boat and tried to not move or make a sound. The unprecedented attack continued unabated over the next 15 minutes leaving the rowers shell shocked.

“We were really scared,” said Tara, “It was so aggressive and persistent, for a while we wondered if it would ever stop, it just kept hitting the boat, having a go at the rudder, the sea anchor and hull. We weren’t sure it wasn’t biting holes in the underside so we rang the support ship Aurora for advice and possible assistance.”

The ship made its way to the crew taking about six hours to get to them. Unfortunately, it was dark by the time it arrived so was unable to assess any possible damage. The support boat is currently staying close until dawn at which point a check will be done.

Tara estimated the beast to be 12 feet long, “because when it went under the boat which is 6 feet wide we could see both ends of it sticking out either side,” but she was not sure what type it was, they didn’t hang around long on deck to find out!

“The scary thing is I was in the water cleaning the hull for barnacles at exactly the same time yesterday and Iain did likewise the day before,” said Tara. “I haven’t bitten my nails for over a year now but in that time I chewed two nails right off.”

Iain said he considered taping a gas cooking canister to a flare and trying to shoot it ‘Jaws’ style but thought the better of it. He passed comment to Tara that, “In 20 years time you may not remember what happened yesterday but you sure as hell won’t forget today.”

Rob Hamill

Team Sunlatte is crewed by Tara Remington and Iain Rudkin from New Zealand
http://www.teamsunlatte.co.nz/
Event website http://www.atlanticrowingrace.co.uk

UPDATE - diver tells of attack in north Queensland Australia

In a later report the diver - Glen Simpson, 44, said he was spearfishing with his 15-year-old son Luke at a reef of Port Douglas when the attack happened.

Luke had just speared a trout when a few sharks appeared and a feeding frenzy began. One swam right up to Simpson’s face.

“I punched him with my left arm to get him out of my face,” Simpson told media.

"And as I did that I was thinking I got rid of him and another one came from behind and grabbed my right arm."

Simpson told his son to swim for the boat which was 60 metres away because he was bleeding a lot. But Luke refused and helped his father to the boat.

After Luke had speared the trout “they started harassing me and dad a bit," Luke said.

And then, "just out of nowhere, it was just like shark city," Simpson told media.

"It was like something out of a movie," he said.

"I consider myself very lucky, you know, especially with the mood the sharks were in."

Simpson required dozens of stitches to a badly gashed left arm.

They both said they would continue spearfishing, but be more cautious.

Sources:
The Sunday Mail

INJURED - Port Douglas, north Queensland, Australia - 11 December 2005 - diver attacked

A brief report on Australia’s ABC News online stated a 42-year-old man was bitten on the elbow by a shark while diving (presumably spearfishing) 20 nautical miles off Port Douglas in far north Queensland, Australia, on Sunday 11 December.

The report said he was in a satisfactory condition in Cairns Base Hospital.

No other information was available at the time of this web log.

Sources: ABC News online

INJURED - New Smyrna Beach, Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida, US - 27 November 2005 - surfer attacked

An unidentified 23-year-old man was bitten on his right hand by a shark after he fell off his surfboard while surfing about 100 metres south of the south jetty at Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida, US. The attack took place at about 2pm local time on Sunday 27 November.

The man did not see the shark and as such was unable to identify the species or say how big it was.

He was treated at Halifax Medical Center at Daytona Beach for cuts and possible tendon damage to his hand.

This is the fourth shark attack at New Smyrna Beach in six weeks. The others occurred on:

20 November
12 November
15 October

Sources: Daytona Beach News Journal

UPDATE - surfer attacked off Flinders, Australia

This is an updated version of the attack on Tom Burke from News.com.au

Tom Burke, 18, told media he furiously punched and kicked the shark after it attacked him while surfing off Flinders, in Western Port Bay, on Friday evening. The shark is believed to be a 1.8 metre Bronze Whaler.

He then paddled back to shore, scared the shark would come after him and too fearful to look at his wounded leg, believing it may have been bitten off.

"I just started feeling really weird, then I saw a big black thing come up. I just got ripped off the board," Burke said.

"I punched it as hard as I could, then I started kicking (it).

"I didn't really have a clue what was going on, it was surreal."

Burke told media he would never surf again.

INJURED - Nahoon Reef, East London, South Africa - 25 November 2005 - surfer attacked

Ashley Milford, 26, suffered a small cut to his finger after being attacked by a shark while surfing at Nahoon Reef, East London, South Africa on Friday 25 November.

The attack took place at 11.30am after Milford had caught a wave, fallen off his board and had just started to paddle back to the take-off zone. The shark hit him from underneath and knocked him off his board. As it rose to take a bite Milford rammed his surfboard sideways into the shark's mouth.

Milford told media the shark had a "squarish snout" indicating it could have been a Zambezi or Tiger shark.

The tooth marks on Milford's board show a bite width of approximately 20 centimetres, according to the report. There was no estimate of the size of the shark.

The surfer told the press: "It was not an experience I'd wish on my worst enemy."

There were no further details in the report.

Sources
Daily Dispatch

INJURED - Flinders, Victoria, Australia - 25 November 2005 - surfer attacked

Tom Bourke, 18, was bitten by a shark while surfing with friends at Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. The attack happened shortly before 6pm on Friday 25 November.

According to media reports Bourke told police the shark was 1.8 metres long, but he didn’t know the species.

His friends drove him to Rosebud Hospital. He suffered two wounds to one leg.

"I didn't go underneath, I got pulled off the board but I didn't go underneath the water," Bourke reportedly told Southern Cross Radio.

There were no futher details in the report.

Sources:
News.com.au

INJURED - Jensen Beach, Florida, US - 21 November 2005 - surfer attacked

A surfer in his 30s was bitten on the left foot by a small shark while surfing at a break about 150 metres north of Jensen Beach, Florida, US, on Monday afternoon, 21 November.

Details are sketchy, but it appears the bite was minor.

“It was a good bite, but pretty minor for a shark bite,” a lifeguard told the Palm Beach Post.

The surfer was taken to Martin Memorial Hospital.

The surfer’s name or type of shark was not mentioned in the report.

Witnesses on the beach said they had seen a four-foot shark swimming in the area for several hours.

One rather humorous line in the Post quoted a witness, Steve Ensor, as saying: “I've been sitting here for 25 years and I've never seen a shark body surf like that before.”

This was in reference to the man seeing the shark so close inshore that it was riding the waves with most of its body exposed.

Sources: Palm Beach Post

UPDATE - teen surfer attack at New Smyrna Beach

The 17-year-old surfer's name is Kevin Spradlin. Kevin was bitten on the leg and said he was paddling back to shore in knee-deep water when he felt a burning sensation on his leg. He needed 43 stitches to close the wound.

He said the attack would not keep him out the water and intended to be back in the surf in two weeks, the time the doctor said it would take for the wound to heal.

INJURED - New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida, US - 20 November 2005 - surfer attacked

A 17-year-old surfer (name withheld by media) was bitten on his right thigh while coming ashore with his surfboard near the south jetty at Ponce de Leon Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, US.

Beach Patrol Captain Scott Petersohn told media: “There were four to five minor lacerations on both sides of the leg.”

The surfer told beach patrol officers he never saw the shark.

He was taken to Bert Fish Medical Center and was expected to make a full recovery.

This is the third attack in five weeks at the same beach. A surfer was attacked on 12 November and swimmer was attacked on 15 October.

Sources:
Daytona Beach News Journal

Local6 News

Shark attack caught on film

Oceanic researchers take a dip 7 miles off the coast of Chile when one is hit by a Great White. All caught on film - grim stuff.

Watch it here

INJURED - Aston Bay, South Africa - 15 November 2005 - fisherman attacked

Sergeant Ivan Gerger, 32, a local policeman who fishes for sharks to supply the Jeffreys Bay shark aquarium was bitten on both hands and his right leg by a ragged-tooth shark when he tried to wrestle it from the water after reeling it in.

The incident took place at about 2pm local time at Aston Bay, near world-renown surfing spot Jeffrey’s Bay on South Africa's east coast.

A police spokesperson told media the shark bit him on the palm and fingers and right leg “but did not bite anything off”, before swimming back out to sea. He was admitted to nearby Humansdorp hospital in a stable condition.

Sources:
News24.com

INJURED - New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA - 12 November 2005 - surfer attacked

An 18-year-old surfer was bitten on the right foot by a shark while he sat on his board with his feet dangling in about eight-feet of water. He was surfing near the New Smyrna Beach jetty in Volusia County, Florida, USA. The teen’s name was not released to the media.

The teen suffered puncture wounds to his right foot and was taken by ambulance to hospital reportedly in a stable condition.

The species and size of shark was not known. A beach patrol official told media the attack was most likely a case of mistaken identity.

Sources:
Local6.com

INJURED - 2 November 2005 - Club Sunterra Resort, St Martin, Caribbean - swimmer attacked

James Bumpers from Buffalo, New York, US, was was bitten on the right leg by a small shark while swimming off the beach at the Club Sunterra Resort on St Martin island in the Caribbean. He was on vacation with his wife Phyllis according to News 4 media.

Bumpers told News 4: “All of a sudden I heard and I felt something hit my leg.

“Honestly I couldn't feel the pain until after I got to the emergency room. I started feeling a little pain when [the doctor] starting sewing me up.”

The two doctors on St Martin concluded it was a small shark (no species identified) that sunk its teeth into Bumpers’ leg. The injuries were minor.

Sources: News 4

FRIGHTENED - 2 November 2005 - Maverics, Half Moon Bay, California, US, - surfer attacked

Tim West was surfing Californian big wave spot Maverics with friend Chris Loeswick when he was knocked into the air by a shark which smashed into the underside of his board.

The attack occurred late Wednesday afternoon (2 November). They were the only two in the water. He was paddling his 10’ 1’’ board out to the take off zone when the shark hit.

“At first I thought it was a seal or some seaweed or a boil,” West told Surfing magazine. “Then I saw this gray thing just thrashing by my board. I swam away, to the end of my leash, and all of the sudden the thing disappeared and everything just stopped. It went dead calm. I reeled in my board and just paddled straight toward the reef. I didn’t even care about waves – just get me into the whitewater.”

Loeswick who saw the entire incident was sitting on his board about 100 metres closer to shore. He shouted to his friend and then saw him begin to paddle to shore. He also then started to paddle to shore, but West still shot past him he was so “pumped on adrenalin”.

From a tooth fragment embedded in the board a shark expert estimated the shark to be a 12-14 foot Great White.

West was uninjured but badly shaken.

Sources:
Surfing magazine
Santa Cruz Sentinel