An unidentified 32 year old man was attacked on February 19th while surfing at Reunion, a French island near Madagascar. The attack occurred at approximately 6 PM. Witnesses reported that his leg was torn off below the knee. The water was reported to be very clear at the time of the attack.
49 year old abalone diver Peter Clarkson was killed by two great white sharks while surfacing near a boat. The captain, Howard Rodd witnessed the attack and said there was no way Mr. Clarkson could have survived. His remains have not been found.
It is believed, but not confirmed, that Mr. Clarkson was wearing a shark deterring device at the time of the attack.
The attack happened near Coffin Bay in southern Australia
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A 58 or 59 year old male tourist (depending on reports) was attacked by a shark while snorkeling with his wife. He was approximately 50 meters from the western shore near Exmouth, Western Australia. The man did not see the shark though his wife did. The shark caused deep wounds to his elbow requiring 30-50 stitches (depending on reports).
38 year old Nicole Moore was attacked by a shark at the Cancun resort of Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand. The attack occurred just before noon. Ms. Moore stepped into the water to cool off after playing volleyball. A witness described the shark as approximately 6 feet in length. The type of shark was not specified.
Ms. Moore suffered serious injury to her left leg and shoulder but is expected to survive and retain her limbs.
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52 year old shark excursion operator Jim Abernethy was bitten by Caribbean reef shark on Wednesday Janary 26th, 2011. Mr. Abernethy was baiting the water to attract sharks when the shark bit him instead of the bait.
He was treated and released from St. Mary’s Medical Center. He sustained massive injuries to his right arm.
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Seven year old Mia Merlini was attacked by something that may have been a shark while swimming in Cudgen Creek near Kingsclif in Australia. The attack occurred at approximately 5 PM. The young girl received 13 stitches in her left leg and six stitches in her right leg.
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16 year old Zama Ndamase was surfing with his brother at Second Beach near Port St Johns when he was attacked by a shark. It is believed that the shark that attacked the young surfer was a bull shark. Mr. Ndamase was not able to make it to shore before bleeding to death.
Mr. Mdamase was a very talented young surfer.
15 year old Hawaiin Vaughn Stover was bitten by a shark while body boarding near Kahului Harbor in Maui, Hawaii. The attack happened at about 3:35 PM on December 26th, 2010. The shark bit his left leg producing lacerations on his heal and shin. He was assisted by a friend as well as some professional surfers that were in the area at the time. He is expected to fully recover.
The shark was estimated to be between 8 and 10 feet long. It is suspected that the fins the boy had on his feet helped in that the shark mostly bit his fins and not his body. Without the fins it is speculated that the shark may have taken the boy’s foot.
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Spanish tourist Jordi Gracia was bitten by a shark near the mouth of the Sigatoka river in Fiji. Mr. Gracia was taking surfing lessons at the time with 12 other people.
He was treated at Sigatoka Hospital and was transferred to Lautoka Hospital.
An unidentified German tourist was mauled and killed by a shark at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on December 5th, 2010. Her arm was severed during the attack and she died within minutes. The woman was apparently swimming for fitness. Few other details were available.
My commentary:
I try to avoid posting any commentary about attacks here. In this case I have to speak up. I find it ridiculous that people believe that a rogue shark is behind these attacks. Sharks are always present. They are wild animals. They do not “develop a taste for humans.” This isn’t the movie JAWS, this is real life. It would be very nice to believe that removing a “rogue” shark from the waters would make them safer but the water is just as safe there as it ever was.
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