FATAL – 15 January 2012 – Second Beach, Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa – surfer attacked
This surfer died after trying to fight off a shark attack at Second Beach, Port St Johns, South Africa
A 25-year-old surfer (name not released) was killed by an unidentified shark while surfing with friends at Second Beach, Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The incident happened about 3pm on Sunday 15 January 2012.
According to a report in the Daily Dispatch the surfer sustained severe injuries to his chest and arms after fighting off the shark with his surfboard.
According to the report, he fought the shark for at least 5 minutes before being pulled from the water by a surfer and other swimmers. Lifeguards and a doctor at the beach at the time treated his wounds before emergency paramedics arrived. He died on route to hospital.
An eye witness was quoted as saying:
“I saw the fin of the shark and as I told people to get out of the water I heard him scream and within seconds the water had turned red.”
“He had a surfboard with him and he used it to wrestle off the shark.
“Lifeguards started blowing their whistles, but by that time there was blood everywhere.
“I have never seen so much blood in my life. I am not sure if I will ever be able to swim there again.”
According to the newspaper, the surfer called on others in the water to get out while he tried to fight off the shark with his board.
National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman said the sea at the time had poor visibility and the water was very warm.
There has been a spate of shark attacks at this beach in the past few years – several of them fatal.
Sources:
PIC Source
Daily Dispatch
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Tags: blood, fatal, port st johns, second beach, shark attack, south africa, surfboard, surfer
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24 January, 2012 at 3:25 am
This is insane! Six fatalities in a five year time span is unprecedented for one isolated stretch of beach. I read another report about the attack, and the shark was apparently determined to kill this latest victim in order to eat him or something along those lines; we’re not talking about mistaken identity or test bites here. Why are the sharks at Second Beach so ferocious and bold in their attacks? I read something about the locals blaming ritual slaughter and the dumping of animal carcasses in those waters, so it is possible that the sharks are now associating human presence with a free handout – if you take away their meal ticket they could become aggressive. Similar to abruptly cutting someone off from welfare or food stamps.
15 February, 2012 at 1:12 am
“According to the newspaper, the surfer called on others in the water to get out while he tried to fight off the shark with his board.”
What courageous presence of mind; an heroic man has been lost.