Shark Attack

South coast shark attack victim 'in good spirits' - I'll surf again

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 June, 2009 : - - Signs have been put up on a New South Wales south coast beach warning that it has been closed, after a shark attack this morning. The victim, surfer Les Wade, 52, was rushed to hospital after he was bitten off Seven Mile Beach at Gerroa, south of Kiama, about 8.45am. He was taken to Shoalhaven hospital where he received more than 50 stitches.

The injury was not regarded serious enough for him to be admitted overnight and he was discharged this afternoon. Following his release from Shoalhaven Hospital yesterday, the grandfather said he was grabbed below the knee by what he thought was a two-metre bronze whaler. He sustained 12 separate puncture wounds.

"I felt something push me from behind, I felt a pressure on my leg, I thought it was another surfer, I turned around to say, 'What are you doing', and then I saw the back of a shark," Mr Wade said. He pledged to be back in the water as soon as he has recovered. The Australian Aerial Patrol says the attack is a timely reminder about the prevalence of sharks, despite the end of summer.  

Duty officer with Surf Life Saving New South Wales, John Restuccia, says signs have been erected this afternoon reminding people the beach is closed and that they swim there at their own risk. "Tomorrow morning our local jetboat in that area, at Kiama, [will] just have to patrol the area and make sure everything's still alright down there," he said.

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Courtesy ABC News  &  SMH

Sharks - Surfersvillage

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