SOUTH AFRICA: LUCKY ESCAPE FOR SURFER ATTACKED BY GREAT WHITE SHARK

Record ID: 355508

Additional media

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: LUCKY ESCAPE FOR SURFER ATTACKED BY GREAT WHITE SHARK
  • Date: 20th July 2000
  • Summary: EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 17, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. LV EAST LONDON BEACH 0.06 2. SCU WAVES CRASH ONTO ROCK; SLV SURFERS RIDE WAVES (4 SHOTS) 0.23 3. SLV SURFER FALLING FROM BOARD AT POINT OF SHARK ATTACK 0.28 4. SLV INJURED SURFER BEING HELPED FROM SURF; SURFER HOLDING INJURED HAND IN AIR AS HE WALKS UP BANK (5 SHOTS) 1.52
  • Embargoed: 4th August 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVA3QMGYHDHEWRRO1SYWJZLDRQ39
  • Story Text: A teenage South African surfer has survived an attack
    by a four-metre (13-foot) Great White shark and escaped with
    just an injured right hand.

    Fifteen-year-old Shannon Ainslie was surfing near the
    Indian Ocean port town of East London on Monday (July 18) when
    he was attacked by the animal.

    "I looked straight into its eyes and thought I was
    dreaming," he said later.

    The shark bit Ainslie's right hand, severely damaging the
    flesh and exposing the bone on the third finger.

    Aquarium curator Willie Maritz said the animal probably
    intended to bite the boy's surf board but his hand got in the
    way.

    The main populations of Great Whites are found off the
    coasts of South Africa, Australia and California. The sharks,
    which can grow to lengths of seven metres or more and weigh up
    to four tonnes, generally feed on seals and smaller fish.

    Humans are seldom a part of their diet. Some experts say
    most attacks on people occur when sharks mistake a human for a
    seal.


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