Staff Writer
A BETTY’S Bay man was bitten by a shark while spear-fishing with friends in Ryspunt yesterday, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.
He said NSRI Agulhas, the SA Police Service, Overberg Fire and Rescue Services and Health Emergency Management Services had confirmed the 43-year-old man from Betty’s Bay had been brought to the harbour in Arniston aboard the boat that he and friends were spear-fishing from off Ryspunt.
“It was reported that he was safe in the harbour. He had suffered bite wounds following the reported shark encounter, believed to be a great white, while spear-fishing offshore of Ryspunt,” he said.
On arrival at the scene, NSRI medics and Fire and Rescue Services paramedics treated the man for multiple lacerations and an avulsion injury to his left leg and thigh.
He also had lacerations to his right hand.
Lambinon said fellow spear-fishers had brought the man to Arniston harbour.
They had used the rubber bands from their spear guns to try to stem the bleeding.
NSRI medics and Fire and Rescue Services paramedics then treated the man with dressings, oxygen and intravenous fluids before an EMS ambulance transported him to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
“The man was stabilised at a Bredasdorp hospital before being airlifted by the EMS/ AMS Skymed helicopter,” Lambinon confirmed.
“He is now in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in Cape Town.”