Les Wade, 52, was bitten on June 28th, 2009 at Seven Mile Beach Gerroa Australia. Mr. Wade was surfing shortly before 9 AM when he felt a nudge from behind. At first he thought it was another surfer but when he looked back he didn’t see a surfer. He swam to other surfers in the area and asked them to look at his leg because he couldn’t see the wound area clearly. They said he might need some stitches and so he paddled back to shore.
Once on shore it was realized that he had more severe lacerations and a hospital was called. He had at least one 15 cm laceration. He received more than 50 stitches at Shoalhaven Hospital. He was released about 5 hours after arriving at the hospital and will recover fine.
At first he said he would go back in the water but now he is a little unsure.
The beach was closed at the time of the attack. The beaches aren’t used very much during winter months and so they are not patrolled actively. Swimmers and surfers are warned that they enter the water at their own risk.
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Three people were bitten at New Smyrna Beach on May 16th, 2009 within an hour. The first bite occurred at 9:35 AM, the second at 10:16 AM, and the third just 11 minutes later at 10:27 AM.
None of the victims were able to identify the species of shark responsible. Most bites in the area are from young black tip and spinner sharks. Bites at New Smyrna Beach are common though almost never fatal.
All of the victims were surfers. One victim, 49 year old Bryan Heath, was bitten while riding his last wave for the morning. The wave weakened half way to the beach so he jumped off his board and apparently landed on a shark. He never saw the shark that severed an artery, tendon, and nerve in his ankle.
Another victim was 55 year old Dave Bryant who suffered a wound to his hand.
I was not able to find information about the third victim.
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Luis Hernandez a 48 year old man from Deerfield Beach Florida was bitten by a 7 foot bull shark while spear fishing off of the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas. Mr. Hernandez had speared a grouper when he saw the bull shark. He was excited to see the shark and considered spearing but instead decided to let it go. He poked the animal with his spear to get it to leave. Apparently the shark didn’t like being poked and bit into the man’s arm. Mr. Hernandez’s wife noticed the trouble and pulled him into their rented boat. She made a tourniquet and transported her husband to seek medical attention. He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial hospital where he received surgical attention. He is expected to make a full recovery.
(Editorial Comment: This is another one of those attacks that are clearly provoked.)
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Jonathan Leon Guerrero, a 27 year old man from Dededo Guam was bitten by a 3.5 foot black tip reef shark while spearfishing. The attack occurred of of Ritidian Point.
Mr. Guerrero was spearfishing in about 30 feet of water. Mr. Guerrero said that he is used to seeing sharks in that area and they never cause a problem. He just scares them away. Members of his fishing party decided on May 12th 2009 to spear a black tip reef shark.
Mr. Guerrero attempted to carry the injured black tip shark back to shore. On his way to shore he was knocked over by waves and the shark broke free and bit his arm. He lost a significant amount of blood but has recovered at Guam Memorial Hospital. Mr. Guerrero lost a chunk of his arm and suffered many lacerations. He suffered at least 5 inch long cuts on the front of his forearm.
(Editorial Comment: I’m hesitant to include this on this blog as this is quite obviously a provoked attack.)
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A french woman in her 50s was attacked and killed by an oceanic white tip shark on Monday June 1st, 2009. Reports differ in the details but all sources confirm that the woman willingly approached the shark. Some accounts (I believe sourced from the AP) say that the woman saw a large fish and jumped from her diving boat to be close to the fish. Another report says that the woman was with many other snorkelers in the water and dove towards the shark to look closer.
The woman apparently died from blood loss either before getting back on the boat or shortly there after. The shark bit her leg when she surfaced and continued to bite her while she was pulled into the boat. The species believed to be responsible is an oceanic white tip.
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