A 25-year old was killed on Sunday afternoon while wading in waist-deep water just off Second Beach at Port St. Johns. This marked the sixth fatal attack on the beach in as many years, and has earned the beach the title of “most dangerous in the world” for such incidents.
The victim, who has not yet been named, was swimming with friends around 15h40 when the attack occurred. Cebo Mafuna was bodysurfing in nearby waves when he witnessed the attack,
I was five metres away when I saw the fin,” he said. “It was about a foot high but it didn’t look like a big shark.
“When it came up out of the water, I saw it open its mouth and saw its teeth. It turned the guy on his side and went for him. He tried to fight it off with his arm but it kept attacking.”
According to other witnesses on the scene, initially lifeguards were reluctant to enter the water but one did wade out with a surfboard to assist the victim.
The water was red all around him,” he (Mafuna) said. “They (the lifeguards) pulled him onto the board then used it as a stretcher to bring him to shore but you could tell he wasn’t going to make it. The shark had bitten his shoulder and chest down his arm to his elbow.
According to local police officer, Captain Mduduzi Godwana the victim died instantly after the shark “bit off his arm and tore out his stomach.”
Zambezi sharks, also known as bull sharks have been responsible for the majority of the attacks. The sharks are known as “the pitbulls of the ocean” due to their habit of biting and viciously shaking, causing horrific injuries.
The attack comes exactly a year after Zama Ndamase fell victim to a similar attack on the same shores.
[Source: The Telegraph]
