SOUTH AFRICA: SHARK ATTACKS. NATAL SOUTH COAST.

Record ID: 1102738

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SHARK ATTACKS. NATAL SOUTH COAST.
  • Date: 12th January 1958
  • Summary: REEL ONE: HELICOPTER. Helicopter leaving Durban on its flight to Scottburgh some 45 miles down the coast from Durban. Coast line, sea observation shots. Scottburgh from air. Loading Helicopter with shark preof nets. Laying nets off bahing area including crowd scenes. This is important if correct. Helicopter flying overhead observing sea movement and spotting for sharks. General beach area, people awaiting authority to enter sea. REEL TWO Test Pilot talking to one of party. Mr W.H.(Slim) Sear of Westland Aircraft Ltd. Boat laying nets off Durban beaches. These nets have been used off Durban for many years and the area has been completely free of any shark attacks. Last section shots of shark in Museum(!). This may sound amusing, but for four days I have been in close contact with every available source of information and no shark has been brought out of the sea !!! Only alternative was to shoot the specimen in the Museum and in very poor light. Initials NOTE: I AM GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD THAT ANTI SHARK NETS HAVE BEEN PAID BY A HELICOPTER. PLEASE CHECK. PLEASE NOTE: In most of the shots in these two reels the camera was hand held. Impossible to use tripod. Bolex with trailing claw the last model imported was used with pistol grip. Regarding the laying of the nets, I only hope there is useable material here, as the sea was very heavy and yours truly was awfully ill. In fact I couldn't see what if stop was being used! Never never again. The little craft was rolling so badly that I could not even gain a good foothold at the end of the craft, and had to have them hold me against the mast. Occasionally I had of necessity to discontinue filming. NOTE. I managed to organise a free trip on the Helicopter, so there will be no costs involved. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th January 1958 12:00
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  • Location: NATAL SOUTH COAST
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVAF40F4AYGW43DJXZU1LM45GSFU
  • Story Text:
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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