"Shark Attack Survivors News Archive"

08/29/2009 Gerhard van Zyl ( South Africa ) ***Fatal***

Listing of the Shark Attack Related Incidents occurring in 2009. 2009 Shark Attacks
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sharkbait
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Re: 08/29/2009 Gerhard van Zyl ( South Africa ) ***Fatal***

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sharkbait
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Re: 08/29/2009 Gerhard van Zyl ( South Africa ) ***Fatal***

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Surfer dies after shark attack

August 30 2009 at 10:55AM



By Leila Samodien

A surfer had his lower leg bitten off by a shark while surfing at Glentana Bay in the Southern Cape on Saturday, and died later in hospital.

Gerhard van Zyl, 25, a Mossel Bay local, was surfing with a friend at the small seaside village when he was attacked.

National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon said they were called out around 3.30pm, soon after the attack.

'We found him on the beach and treated him for amputation'
Van Zyl's lower right leg had been bitten almost completely off.

When authorities arrived, a friend had pulled him out of the water, and had helped to tie a tourniquet around his injured leg.
Continues Below ↓

Lambinon said NSRI volunteers, ER24 paramedic services, Netcare 911, the police, Metro ambulance and rescue services and a Red Cross AMS helicopter had been called to the beach.

"We found him on the beach and treated him for amputation to his right leg," said Lambinon. "He was airlifted to a hospital in George and when he got there, was declared to be in a critical condition. He was later declared dead."

Van Zyl's father, who was in Cape Town at the time of the incident, was travelling back to Mossel Bay to identify his son's body, the police said.

'...this is the first we've heard of a shark attack there'
Southern Cape Surfing chairman Mike Sheppard said Glentana Bay was fast becoming a popular surfing spot. This was the first recorded shark attack there that he had heard of.

"It is an active stretch of beach. Surfers are making use of it more and more, but this is the first we've heard of a shark attack there," he said.

The attack, said Sheppard, had left the entire local surfing community rattled.

"Everyone's emotional, it's a very sad day for us. You have lots of people surfing here each day and this really hits home for us."

Robin de Kock, general manager of Surfing SA, said that while shark attacks were traumatic for surfers, they were a very rare occurrence. Surfers were aware of the dangers of the sport, he said.

"This is a terrible tragedy, and without detracting from that fact, it must be said that it is a very rare occurrence. If you're a surfer, shark attacks are one of the risks you're aware of," said De Kock.

"You could be stung by a jellyfish or break your neck on a wave. But surfing is still very safe compared to contact sports like rugby."


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sharkbait
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08/29/2009 Gerhard van Zyl ( South Africa ) ***Fatal***

Post by sharkbait »

Gerhard van Zyl a Surfer dies after shark attack - A 25-year-old man who was attacked by a shark while surfing at Glentana Bay has died, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Saturday.---



Surfer dies after shark attack
2009-08-29 19:05

George - A 25-year-old man who was attacked by a shark while surfing at Glentana Bay has died, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Saturday.

"The victim was airlifted to a hospital in George in a critical condition where he was later declared dead after all efforts to save him were exhausted," NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.

The man had been surfing with a friend at the bay between Glentana and Outeniqua, near Mossel Bay when the attack happened just after 15:30 on Saturday.

His friend brought him to shore.

Right leg bitten off

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, they found the man had already had his right leg amputated below the knee from a shark bite.

Paramedics and other emergency workers carried out resuscitation efforts.

The man was then taken to the George provincial hospital where he died.

"The family has been informed and are in close contact with the authorities."

It is not yet known what species of shark was involved in the incident.

"The NSRI and the emergency services have expressed our deepest sympathies to the family of the victim."

http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfri ... ark_attack
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