Saffa on Shark Death
Tuesday 6 September 2011 South African bodyboarder Mark Clark describes the tragic aftermath of the shark attack south of Perth on Sunday, when his friend, 21-year-old bodyboarder Kyle James Burden, died instantly after he was bitten in half.
Reports on Facebook and in the media, including a first-hand account by Mark Clark, a well known photographer, say that Burden was dead when surfers in the water tried desparately to help him.
The guys have been lauded for their brave but traumatising attempt to get him to shore. Channel 9 news, an Australian media network, said West Australian police praised the surfers who brought his mangled body out at Boneyards, at Bunkers Bay in Dunsborough, where a great white is believed to have bitten him.
A devastated Clark, who said that while reports said that the attack took place at midday in front of families out on Father's Day excursions, the attack actually "happened up the very far end of the beach with only about 10 of us in the water. Luckily there weren't any families down that side of the beach, and we did spend sometime headed back up the beach chasing people in the opposite direction."
The Channel Nine story said: "Dunsborough police said another friend, Sollee Morris, and the surfers helping him had remained cool-headed after witnessing a sight that would have even been confronting for seasoned police officers."
Dunsborough Police officer Sergeant Craig Anderson told Channel Nine: "The nature of his injuries was significant, it's not something that even volunteer rescuers or emergency services like to see, even my own staff, so it's just something so you have to deal with as a police officer and do the job you have to do."
"Locals said it was likely the shark came inshore following a pod of whales or to prey on seals. Australia averages one fatal shark attack a year," the report said.
Clark said: "I have known him for some time here and always surfing with him - a really great guy in and out the water and a sad loss. I think everyone that was down will be trying to pick up where they left off from."
There have also been reports of increased shark activity in the vicinity of Long Beach, in Kommetjie, near Cape Town. Surfers on the weekend reported a white shark cruising the lineup.
Surfer Joshua Kleve said a three metre shark surfaced 10-15 metres from him and went under again. "I was on a longboard and it didnt look like it was out to get anyone, but still freaked me out big time. I asked people if they saw it and everyone said no, but apparently people have been spotting them all day."
Sources
Aus Officials Not Hunting Shark