4th shark death in Port St Johns

Monday 21 December 2009

The fourth fatal shark attack in two years has again set off alarm bells in Port St Johns.

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According to witnesses who spoke to the Daily Dispatch, the 22 year old lifeguard was yesterday pulled off his knee board by a shark off Second Beach, and disappeared. His remains were not found. His name has not been released.

Lindokuhle Mahanjane, 21, said "there was blood in the water when he saw a 'big shark' surfacing to attack for the second time", the Dispatch reported.

The NSRI have issued warnings to coastal communities to heed shark warnings in areas known for shark activity, such as the mouth of the fish-rich Umzimvubu River.

"People are constantly being warned not to swim in murky waters, but they continue to put their lives in danger by not behaving responsibly," NSRI Port St Johns spokesperson John Costello told The Mercury.

A spate of three shark deaths - beginning on Sunday 14 January 2007 - prompted the acquisition of shark repellent devices earlier this year, but it was not known if the battery powered devices were in use at the time of this attack, the fourth fatality in 23 months.

The first victim, lifeguard Masiza Sibulele, had been bitten in 2004, but was fatally bitten early in 2007 by a tiger shark, according to bite marks on a flipper that washed ashore. His body was never found. Lifeguard Sikhanyiso Bangilizwe died in January this year by a Zambezi shark, and in April, surfer Luyolo Mangele, 16, perished after a Zambezi bit him on the leg. All three came from Mthumbane township, and all three attacks occurred at Second Beach.