Shark: Kowie Beaches Closed

In a press statement, the NSRI urged the public not to swim at any of the beaches in the Port Alfred area until further notice.

"It is not known why the shark incident occurred but there is currently very murky water prevailing around the Port Alfred Coast and as a precaution (whether this murky water has anything to do with the incident or not) we are urging bathers, paddlers and surfers not to enter the water.

At approximately 10h30 a local surfer, Brendonn Denton, 35, was bitten on both feet by a shark (initial indications are that this was either a Bronze shark or a Zambezi Bull shark but we will wait for experts to investigate the bite marks before concluding the species of shark).

Brendonn was surfing at East beach, Port Alfred, with his brother and after catching a wave he was returning back out to sea, paddling on his surfboard, still within the breaker line, when he felt something tugging on his feet. He said that when he turned around and saw an approximately 2 metre shark holding onto his feet he attempted to fight the shark off when the shark appeared to become aggressive and fight back and reportedly trying to pull him, by the feet, under the water.

Brendonn freed himself from the shark after taking off his leash and the shark went off with his surfboard. A few moments later the surfboard reappeared above water and Brendonn used the surfboard to paddle to the beach where the alarm was raised.

He was loaded into a friends car as NSRI rescuers and paramedics arrived on the scene and it was agreed that he go immediately to a local doctors surgery where he is currently undergoing treatment.

It appears that Brendonn will require surgery to reattach tendons on his feet and on the insides of both ankles and a decision is due shortly if that surgery will take place at the local doctor or if he needs to be transported to a hospital emergency room.

Brendonn is otherwise in a stable and satisfactory condition," the release said.