Perth swimmer taken by Great White?

[Sam Blum]

A senior went for his regular swim off my second favourite beach today and was only a short distance from shore when his friends lost sight of him. Police, the Coast Guard and even the SAS (SAS Campbell Barracks are right next to Swanbourne Beach and Cottesloe Beach) searched for the man, before his bathers were found on the sea bed, positively identified by his wife. Police have said the speedos have signs indicating a shark attack. It is almost always Great Whites along that stretch.

We had a 27C day today, and after having almost recovered from being really ill with epidemic flu, I almost went to Swanny Beach today...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-10/missing-swimmer-shark-attack/3460948

 

[nfgrls]

always sad, but thats why I won't go in the water

 

[Críostóir]

Lakes. Lakes are shark-free. GREAT lakes (like the ones I grew up around) are comparable on a human scale, though they're also hurricane-free. And salt-free. And jellyfish-free.

OTOH you're less likely to be attacked by a shark than you are to be struck by lightning. And you CAN be struck by lightning out of a clear sky. It does happen.

 

[mbamike]

That is so sad! My condolences to his family and friends.

 

[blackbeltninja]

Yup, we've had a lot of sharks in the news of late as well - that time of year, I suppose. Had a tourist lose a leg last week and it's touch and go whether he'll keep the other one after being bitten by a great white.

-d-

 

[The_Reaper]

The thing is, I actually love sharks. I would reckon the Great White is actually my favourite animal on this planet...After domesticated animals such as the dog, though.

While it is sad that someone has died, I think we need to keep in mind that swimming in the ocean carries risks. We don't blame a high tide when someone drowns, but we do blame sharks when they do what comes naturally to them.

Again, it's not great that someone has died; but I don't want to imagine the type of 'shark panic' this invokes. Statistically speaking, I believe, more people die each year from bee-stings than they do from shark attacks.

Sorry, I'm pretty pro-shark and just hate to see another reason people use to justify hunting these incredible creatures.

 

[AusyAndy]

My family got an email from my uncle saying he had a close call at the same beach that day, before that happened. Scary stuff, and very unfortunate when someone does get killed or injured...

Though, I agree with Reaper. I find sharks to be quite fascinating and always loved them as a kid. You go into the ocean and you're going into their home and feeding ground. People don't run around in lion-territory just for a ten minute jog, but they go into shark-territory for a little swim. People have to understand the risks they're taking just to go for a swim or surf. Don't just blame the shark for being a shark when someone's daily surf/swim goes tits-up...

 

[MoltenRock III]

I've surfed in a number of countries, and from hundreds of breaks. I will never surf on the Perth side of Oz. Never! Between the shark attacks, blue ringed octopi, and poisonous jellies there, no friggin thanks.

 

[Sam Blum]

Lakes. Lakes are shark-free. GREAT lakes (like the ones I grew up around) are comparable on a human scale, though they're also hurricane-free. And salt-free. And jellyfish-free.

OTOH you're less likely to be attacked by a shark than you are to be struck by lightning. And you CAN be struck by lightning out of a clear sky. It does happen.

LOL. In Queensland, quite a way South near the NSW border and around 50km inland, there is an advanced colony of Bullsharks living in absolutely fresh water. APparently in 1974 when Qld had its last major flood cycle, a river grew to such a level that water flooded over the weir allowing Bullsharks to swim into the reservoir. When the waters subsided, the sharks remained and thrived. They have been known to attack a racehorse being exercised in the river - they no longer take horses in, needless to say. On the other hand, it's not official as far as the government or the Qld. zoological gardens are concerned, even though several decent sized adolescent sharks have been caught in that area, proving that they are living well and breeding successfully. People still go in swimming with their kids, and with no idea what else is in there.

I will never surf on the Perth side of Oz. Never!

More shark attacks on the East Coast than here.

I agree that it would be wrong to interfere with the sharks in response to an attack. A boy that was taken a few years ago down South was survived by a family who were at pains to repeat on TV that he would not have wanted people to hunt for sharks in response to his demise.

Great Whites are actually protected in Australian waters. Sadly, the governments themselves have been seen to hunt for sharks after a death.