UPDATE: Shark Attack Kills Teen!
Peter Edmonds, 16, (pictured right) was the victim fatally attacked by a large shark while bodyboarding at Ballina’s Lighthouse Beach in northern NSW this morning.
The boy, from Wollongbar, west of Ballina, died after being bitten twice on the left leg about 8am.
Peter’s bodyboarding companion, Brock Curtis (pictured left), helped his friend back to shore following the shark attack.
Brock said he saw a “big, grey shadow” pass by him as he paddled toward his stricken friend but was not afraid as he did not know what it was.
“In the water I was in line with him (Peter) and noticed that he was in a bit of trouble,” he said. “As I headed towards him it looked like he was catching a wave and was heading back to shore. Then I saw him on his back with his head above the water so then he turned so he was face down. I thought he was only joking, so I went over to him and as I flipped him over I saw his leg.”
Brock said he tried in vain to resuscitate Peter after dragging him to shore.
R.I.P. Peter
[source]
they think it might have been a bull shark.
poor kid and poor family.
they ran a show lastnight on the news, getting a an attack survivor(from the same beach) to go into a cage in the water with great whites. (one even slammed into the cage!!) the show was shot in the recent past and the guy was asked if this would help him to conquer his fears and swim again…he said yes…they interviewed him live last night and asked the same question. he said he will never go in the water again.
(ps in case you didnt guess I am from Aussie land)
Bull sharks terrify me…was just in Florida about hour and a half south of shark capitol Volusia County and saw bulls and spinner sharks in knee deep water cruising in between the sand bars…in fact many beaches were closed because of the shark migration (surprised there wasn’t more press on that…given peak spring break season here and all)—hear many sharks are migrating south to the Keys to give birth at this time….I saw those “large, dark shadows” below the water (bulls rarely “present” their dorsal fins)….made my hair stand up on end….I can only begin to imagine the fear that victim felt and I feel so badly for his friend/family. The only way to truly guarantee you won’t get attacked is to stay out of the water….you’ll find me on land always….
This is truly sad. So sorry for that young boy. Brock was very brave to try to help his friend.
Talk about swimming with sharks, check this out:
http://www.dynoswim.com/archives/2008/02/2008_binge_swim_training_bende.php