Shark kills surfer in Hawaii

NEWS.com.au ^ | 4.08.04

[ambrose]

Shark kills surfer in Hawaii

From correspondents in Honolulu

April 9, 2004

A SURFER has been killed while riding the waves off the coast of Hawaii in the first confirmed fatal shark attack in the island paradise in 12 years.

Shark control officials in the offshore US state said 57-year-old Willis McInnis died Wednesday after being bitten on the leg while paddling for waves off Kahana Beach on the island of Maui, a key tourist destination.

"I understand he received some assistance (after being attacked), got to the shore and then passed away at the scene," Randy Honebrink, a spokesman for the state's Shark Task Force said.

"Most likely the species would have been a tiger shark. A lot of them are there. It was a fairly large shark, they are responsible for these type of attacks," he said.

While there are three or four shark attacks off the surfing paradise of Hawaii each year, Wednesday's incident marked the first confirmed shark fatality here since 1992, Honebrink said.

[ken5050]

Sounds like he bled out..probably bit through the femoral artiery...too bad..remember the girl surfer who lost her arm a few months ago to a shark bite...only because others used her board rope as a tourniquet did she live.....sometimes ya gotta be lucky..

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[ambrose]

http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=129&fArticleId=396146

Beach deserted after shark savages teen



By Janette Neuwahl

Young surfers stood on the beach in little knots clutching surfboards and peering anxiously out to sea.

A few children built sandcastles well away from the water on an otherwise deserted beach.

No one dared brave the breakers.

Above them, on Boyes Drive above Muizenberg beach in Cape Town, surfing veteran Roy Tipper focused and concentrated as he swept the sea, looking for the telltale fins of sharks.

Two had been spotted earlier in the day.

This was the tense, almost surreal picture, at popular Muizenberg yesterday, the day after a 16-year-old surfer was savaged by a great white shark.

John Paul Andrew was barely 100m from the shore on Monday when a great white - one of five spotted off the coast - struck, ripping off his right leg.

Barely alive, the teenager was operated on and yesterday his condition was described as critical but stable, with a ventilator breathing for him.

And as the surfing community tried to get over the horror of the attack at one of Cape Town's "nursery breaks", rescue officials mobilised four rubber ducks, a rescue helicopter and extra lifeguards for the beach for the rest of the Easter holiday.

Many of the surfers who had been present when the attack occurred chose to visit Andrew at the Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic, where his family and friends were keeping vigil.

"His parents are emotionally exhausted," said Sally Andrew, his aunt, on her way out of the hospital yesterday afternoon.

"But they are so thankful for the overwhelming support from friends, family, JP's school and the hospital. They are asking people to send their love, prayers and thoughts to him."

She added that the family were trying to find a way to get JP's older sister here from Germany, where she is studying. She described her nephew as a "special boy who is a good artist and designer".

Among the few who actually got into the intensive care unit was JP's rescuer, 28-year-old Grant Kirkland, who swam the teenager to shore after the attack.

"It was quite strange seeing him again," said Kirkland, of Oranjezicht. "When I pulled him in, all I saw were his brown eyes lying open in shock.

"I was worried that he had lost all of his blood, so it was very eerie to see him today. But I am happy because he's alive."

Despite his traumatic experience, Kirkland said he planned to go back to surfing very soon. He was even eyeing his wetsuit yesterday morning, but decided that going to the hospital was more important.

"I have to go back," he said. "I've been in car accidents before, and afterwards obviously you don't want to drive, but you've got to do it."

Robin de Kock, general manager of Surfing South Africa, which helps to organise competitions for its more than 4 000 members, said rugby was more dangerous than surfing.

"There are thousands of sharks in False Bay and if we had to look over the area with a helicopter before each race, we'd never have a surfing competition and no one would swim," De Kock said.

"But shark attacks are so rare and that's why it becomes such a big thing when one happens."

[tracer]

Clearly the fault of the current administration and the flawed environmental policy it has covered up.

More hearings are in order.... </sarcasm

[ambrose]

ping.

[Joee]

This happened in murkey water. I know of no effort to find the shark in this case.

[rodguy911]

Dirty water is usually the cause, when the turbidity levels rise sharks have a hard time distinguishing a "human trolled bait" from a fish, seal or other. They don't target us as food, we don't taste god accd. to experts.

[Pukin Dog]

Always tragic. A horrible way to die.

Hawaii I hear is like 80% democrats, but I guess I should not go there?

[New Horizon]

[bigpete_53]

No fatal shark attacks occurred during the Clinton administration. We must form a committee to investigate what the failings were of this current administration.

[Vision]

That's a porpoise

[ken5050]

They've done many studies on shark attacks..sharks attack from below..looking up at their "prey"..surfers in wetsuits on boards are very similar to seals or penguins, their prey of choice...and what's more..the reason that many survice the attack is as soon as the shark bites, it realizes that the board, or wetsuit, or human...isn't "food"..as the shark knows it..ands the sharkd releases, or spits it out, immediate;y..

[ambrose]

They've done many studies on shark attacks..sharks attack from below..looking up at their "prey"..surfers in wetsuits on boards are very similar to seals or penguins, their prey of choice...and what's more..the reason that many survice the attack is as soon as the shark bites, it realizes that the board, or wetsuit, or human...isn't "food"..as the shark knows it..ands the sharkd releases, or spits it out, immediate;y..

And then shouts "Yuk!!!!"

[ken5050]

Years ago, I went on a dive trip off Aruba..the locals had a "semi" tame moray eel named waldo...he was conditioned to divers...he'd goten used to being fed...I have this pic of me hand feeding him a fish..his mouth.open,,is HUGE.....

[New Horizon]

That's a porpoise

Sorry...I live in Michigan.

[Arthalion]

Dang, I stayed at the Royal Kahana a few years back and tried to do some surfing and snorkling at the beach right where this guy was hit. The waves were small and boring, the water was dark & murky, and the small & steep beach smelled like rotting seaweed. The hotel was nice, but the location stunk...literally.

I never gave a thought to sharks though. Visibility in the water was so poor that I assumed the sharks simply wouldn't swim in it. I guess I now have one more reason to avoid that hotel the next time I'm in Maui.

[Enduring Freedom]

Terrorists!

[VMI70]

"They don't target us as food, we don't taste god accd. to experts."

I think the survivors of the Indianapolis might argue with the experts.

[Vision]

No reason to be sorry. It's a cool picture!