shark

East London, South Africa: Angus Warren watched helplessly as the shark’s teeth crunched through the hull of his surfski. “It seemed to go on and on,” he says, “pushing and chomping. I was thinking, why is it not working out that it isn’t food?

“I can’t tell how long it took, but I had enough time to shout a couple of times to the others.”

The next thing he knew, he was in the water…

The shark smashed like a freight train into Roger Swinney’s surfski in an explosion of noise and spray, knocking him off into the water.  “I managed to get back on the ski,” he said, “but I fell off again and as I remounted the second time, I saw the swirl and tips of the shark’s fins.

“I didn’t see it clearly, but from the force of it and the movement in the water, it looked big!”

“All I remember is that it felt like being hit by a truck,” said Andy Wheatley.  “The crunch was pretty impressive!” 

Flung violently off his surfski and into the water, Wheatley’s “first thought was to get back on and go!”

“NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a man bumped off his surfski near Robberg Beach, Plettenberg Bay…” Bump? Some bump!

The email was brief: “Newsflash - Richard was attacked by a shark. He is safe, but his surfski is seriously damaged (entire rudder system trashed).”  Later came an update: “Richard is safe, though he had to stop 3 times on his paddle today to empty his boat. “

Sea Rescue – National – Wednesday, 18 August, 2010. WARNING – Shark activity close inshore.

The NSRI and Save Our Seas foundation are warning bathers, paddlers and surfers to be acutely aware that at this time of year sharks migrate towards the shoreline in search of food.

Duane Strosaker was paddling his sea kayak about 5nm offshore from the Gaviota State Beach in Southern California, when a Great White Shark decided he was worth investigating.  Duane "screamed like a girl" (who wouldn't) as the shark gently put its mouth around the hull of the kayak and held it for "10-15 seconds".

29 year old Steve Kulcsar was knocked off his fishing kayak by a 5m Great White Shark near Long Reef, Sydney, Australia.  The shark circled him for a minute while he trod water and tried to get back on his craft. 

{mosimage}

What motivates email hoaxers?  What assholes.  This 2006 pic of a Great White Shark is doing the rounds via email at the moment.

2006 image showing Great White Shark off Fish Hoek Beach. (Copyright Alison Kock)

We have more details of the incident and some photos of the Fenn Millennium surfski that was chomped by a Great White Shark in Mossel Bay on 28th June.

Damage to Kobus Maritz' ski