Re: 12/29/2002 Unknown Female (Australia)
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:15 pm
Hammerhead shark bites NQ tourist
CAIRNS: A shark expert says an attack on a Dutch tourist off Cairns yesterday was unusual but not the first in north Queensland waters.
The 18-year-old woman was taken to Cairns Base Hospital with severe gashes to her arm.
It is believed she was bitten by a hammerhead shark while snorkelling near Upolo Cay.
Shark researcher Richard Fitzpatrick says larger hammerhead sharks are rarely encountered.
"They are known to be aggressive towards people, particularly people that have been spearfishing. If there's food in the water they can come quite close," he said.
"They're a shark that isn't shy - they will approach and there have been a few instances over the last 10 or 20 years of great hammerheads just biting people.
"But generally they just bite, realise it's the wrong kind of thing and let the person go."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200212/s755616.htm
CAIRNS: A shark expert says an attack on a Dutch tourist off Cairns yesterday was unusual but not the first in north Queensland waters.
The 18-year-old woman was taken to Cairns Base Hospital with severe gashes to her arm.
It is believed she was bitten by a hammerhead shark while snorkelling near Upolo Cay.
Shark researcher Richard Fitzpatrick says larger hammerhead sharks are rarely encountered.
"They are known to be aggressive towards people, particularly people that have been spearfishing. If there's food in the water they can come quite close," he said.
"They're a shark that isn't shy - they will approach and there have been a few instances over the last 10 or 20 years of great hammerheads just biting people.
"But generally they just bite, realise it's the wrong kind of thing and let the person go."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200212/s755616.htm