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Some beaches in False Bay have reopened while others remained closed following a shark attack earlier in the week.
A man attacked by a great white shark at Fish Hoek beach in Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon was rescued by a stranger, the NSRI said.
“It appears he was rescued from the water by a bystander who left the scene before we could identify him,” National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said.
“On arrival, a 42-year-old man was found on the shore suffering complete amputation of his right leg, above the knee, and partial amputation of his left leg, below the knee.”
Lambinon said the victim was believed to be a 42-year-old British citizen living in the Cape Town suburb of Plumstead. The man was stabilised at the scene and airlifted to Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic in a critical condition.
“The man was conscious when paramedics attended to him on the beach, but was sedated on-scene by paramedics in their efforts to stabilise the patient,” Lambinon said.
The City of Cape Town said when the man entered the water, the beach was still closed. A shark flag, indicating the presence of a great white, was flying. A shark spotter stationed on the beach was warned by a spotter on the mountain that someone had entered the water.
The spotter then ran to Clovelly Corner to try and get the swimmer out of the water, but the attack took place before he could reach him.
The city said the attack happened around 12.15pm. Shark spotters sighted the shark at 10.45am and then closed the beach. The white shark flag was raised and the siren set off.
The victim of the shark attack was the only person in the water at the time.
Fish Hoek beach as well as Glencairn, St James and Muizenberg beaches were closed as a precaution until further notice.
The shark was still in Fish Hoek bay in the afternoon and being monitored by the spotters. - Sapa
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Stupidity, thy name is..., wrote
@ Chris - people everywhere have been known to ignore warnings of danger, taking the attitude 'it won't happen to me'. How many have died during natural disasters because of refusal to take heed of warnings. There are warning going out right now that mankind is destroying the planet & that if something isn't done soon humans will be extinct, but how many are heeding the warnings? We are all responsible for our own stupidity. Don't always want to put the blame on someone else. I guess that's what you have always done, so why expect anything different now. Grow up!
Anonymous, wrote
Really tragic! I sincerely hope the victim makes a speedy recovery! But, why ignore an obvious warning?? Darwinism personified I say!
Anonymous, wrote
People need to discipline themselves, PERIOD, if you are not going to listen to the spotters and the lifeguards and the signs they put in place, you will feel the wrath of a great white. my heart goes out to the victim, but let this be a lesson for those who do not ad-hear.
Jean, wrote
As a matter of fact Michael Cohen (the attack victim) was well aware that the beach was closed and had previously ignored many warnings by the spotters not to swim. The spotters and lifeguards are completely blameless and do a wonderful job. Some people just feel the need to learn the hard way.
Anonymous, wrote
Chris, I think you're comment is pathetic!!!! I feel for this guy but come on, the beach was empty, the sirens were activated and the flag was flying, if you're going to swim at our beaches then you should be aware of our rules and warnings. It is so wrong to put the blame on the shark spotter and lifeguards.
Chris, wrote
Well .... shark spotters and all their walkie talkies & binoculars still failed to warn the swimmer in time. Not everyone knows how the beach operates and what little flag means what? I would definately blame the shark spotters & lifeguards for this. Pathetic!! Please save the shark!!
Viv, wrote
I just hope that the shark does not have to die, because of this man's stupidity. While I do feel sorry for the victim, and hope that he recovers, the shark should not be killed as it was only going about it's normal routine.
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