Shark Bite Details Emerge

According to a report by Dave McGregor of the Daily Dispatch on the attack - the fifth fatality in three years at what must be now regarded as the most dangerous beach in the world - the event was witnessed by The Lodge owner and mentor to Zama Mike Gatke while "sitting on his verandah watching Zama and his mates surf".

“It was hectic … I heard screaming and shouting and saw Zama splashing the water before he was pulled off his board. I saw the blood in the water and realised he had been attacked.”

The report in this morning's Dispatch said that Gatke watched "the terrified teenager bravely try to paddle to safety – while his horrified friends scattered in all directions to the safety of the beach".

Apparently Zama got on the board and "even managed to catch a wave almost to the beach, but was swept back out to sea by a rip current".

There is no official cause of death, but witnesses say that he died from blood loss. The shark severed an atery in his left thigh.

Zama was not wearing one of the Shark Shields given to Port St Johns lifeguards, and according to Dave's report, "by the time lifeguards secured a Shark Shield to their rescue jet ski and sped off to help the bleeding youngster, it was already too late".

The attack at the 300m stretch of beach has left surfers and lifeguards at Second Beach severely traumatised. Border Surfing Association Junior Team Coach Malcome Logie said: "His passing leaves us numb and with a huge sense of loss."

David Malherbe – a veteran Border surfer who lives on the Wild Coast – told the Dispatch that a lasting solution to the Second Beach spate of five fatal shark attacks in three years needed to be urgently formulated.

“If half this number of attacks had happened at most other beaches in the country there would have been massive outrage and preventative action taken, but obviously due to weak local government/municipalities and the location, nothing has happened.”

Logie said Zama was a "young guy, full of spirit and always ready for a laugh. He was always willing to help his teammates and enjoyed giving the younger surfers encouragement and advice".

"Zama was a product of the Border Surfing Association development programme and last year had achieved well at the SA Grom Games where he placed in the final of the Boys U16 Divsion. He had secured his position in the Border Junior Surfing Team over the past three years and had represented Border at the South Africa National Junor Surfing Champioships. "Border was looking to him to play a leading role in our team this year. Surfing was everything to Zama - his entire lifestyle centred on his next session surfing."

DonationsSurfing South Africa
FNB Rondebosch 201509
50170019142 (current account)
Please use ZAMA in the reference

According to the press release by Surfing South Africa, "There is real concern that the surfers who were in the water during the attack will not be able to cope and plans are being made to send a counsellor to the area to help the locals handle the tragedy.

"The Port St Johns community is poor and there is precious little money to assist the Ndamase family deal with their grief. Nor are there funds available to pay for the costs of sending a counselor to help the community. The Border Surfriders Association and Surfing South Africa are therefore appealing for support to cover these expenses.

"All funds raised will be used to assist the Ndamase family with expenses and contribute to the costs of sending a grief counselor to work with the family and the community."