Exactly a year after a surfer was killed by a shark at Second Beach in Port St Johns, another life is claimed
|||A 25-year-old man died after being attacked by a shark at Second Beach, Port St Johns, in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. It was exactly a year after surfer Zama Ndamase, 16, was killed by a shark on the same beach.
According to reports, the victim had been swimming in waist-deep water surrounded by scores of other bathers when he was attacked.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the shark had been seen by somebody else who alerted other swimmers, “but unfortunately, it was too late for the deceased”.
Kupelo said the “brave” man fought with the shark for a “good five minutes” before he was pulled out of the water.
“His injuries were severe, but while he was fighting for his life, he was shouting for others to get out of the water,” Kupelo added.
Ncedolwethu Mphohliwe said he saw the shark first, and started shouting for people to get out of the water.
“I saw the fin of the shark through a wave and, as I told people to get out of the water, I heard him scream and within seconds, the water had turned red,” he said. “He had a surfboard with him and he used it to wrestle against the shark.”
Surfing expert Michael Gatcke said shark attacks were prevalent at this time of the year.
He said people should only go into the water up to their knees.
National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said that NSRI volunteers and paramedics arrived to find that the man had suffered multiple injuries. A surfer and other bathers rescued him, and lifeguards began treating him.
“Paramedics continued with treatment while transporting the man to a local clinic. Medical staff declared the man dead after all efforts to save him had been exhausted,” he said.
The swimmer, whose identity has not yet been released, was from Tombo, in the Eastern Cape.
This was the sixth shark attack since 2007.
KZN Sharks Board head Mike Anderson-Reade said studies into the high number of shark attacks in the area were still taking place. - The Mercury