by The Editors on January 8, 2009
NorCal surfers deal with a lot more sea life than those in Southern California and sometimes their cavalier attitudes make us feel downright soft; especially during shark season.
Being bitten by a great white shark six years ago has not kept Michael Casey out of the water, nor did seeing a shark again while surfing this past New Year’s Day near the Bodega Dunes Campground. . . . Instead of giving up for the day, Casey went a quarter mile up the beach and went back in the water. . . . “I saw other guys out,” said Casey, a Santa Rosa assistant city attorney. “I just felt more comfortable, it was uneventful, I caught some good waves and it was a good way to start the new year.”
Then again, maybe Casey expects a little professional courtesy this time around.
[Link: Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
by The Editors on October 6, 2008
Surfer Dave Carr, 40, had the pleasure of landing Volusia County Florida’s world record breaking shark attack as he was hit by a three foot shark while surfing at Bethune Beach on Sunday, October 5, 2008.
David Logan, a 44-year-old surfer from Jupiter, was initially thought to have been on the receiving end of the bite that broke the 2001 record of 22 bites in a single year. Since Logan was bitten shortly after noon Sunday, a good hour after Carr was bitten, he’s the latest victim.
Phew, would hate to have that honor go to the wrong guy. The bar is now raised to 24 and we still have three months to go.
[Link: News Journal Online]
by The Editors on September 12, 2008
Todd Murashige, 40, was surfing Crouching Lian near Oahu’s Kaaawa when he remembers seeing a shark head next to him. He started paddling for shore and the next thing he knew the shark had taken a large chunk out of his thigh, according to a story on KITV.com.
Murashige pried the shark off his leg with his hands and said he could not feel his foot when he got back on his surfboard. However, he did see most of the flesh on his right thigh ripped open, he told his family.. . . A fellow surfer helped him into shore and called 911. “When I was lying on shore and I thought I was going to black out, and I told myself if I blacked out I would die. That’s what I really felt. So, I called my wife and I called my mom. I guess you don’t really realize,” Murashige said.
Doctors at Queen’s Medical center say he is doing fine, but he is unsure whether he will ever surf again.
[Link: KITV.com and Honolulu Advertiser]
by The Editors on September 8, 2008
John Morgan, 51, the manager of surf shop Maddog Byron Bay was towed “like a jet ski” yesterday at Clarkes Beach when an 8 to 10-foot shark got caught up in his leash.
I had just come off a wave when I saw a large swirl of water,” he said. “I was then suddenly hauled backwards. . . . “It felt like I was riding behind a powerful jet ski. . . .The water was dirty so I couldn’t make out what type of shark it was but I knew from the splashing white water that it was roughly eight to ten foot (3m),” Mr Morgan said. . . . All I could think about was holding on and hoping the shark would untangle itself,” he said.
Eventually that is what happened and Morgan paddle directly back into shore.
[Link: The Sunshine Coast Daily]
by The Editors on September 8, 2008
Surfers who grab a couple waves at Florida’s Ponce Inlet without getting bitten by a shark are beginning to sound more and more in the minority as the sharks nipped a 15 year old and 43 year old this weekend.
Minutes after a lifeguard began treating one surfer for a reported shark bite last weekend, another surfer informed the beach official he too had been attacked, WFTV of Orlando, Fla., reported Monday.
This brings the Ponce Inlet total to 21 so far this year.
[Link: UPI]
by The Editors on August 28, 2008
This is getting really old, it’s starting to feel like logging pitbull bites in the Barrio. But Alexander Zgura, 26, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida was bitten (twice) by a shark as he sat “dangling his toes in the murky ocean.”
Zgura reportedly suffered two bites, with numerous lacerations, between his knee and ankle, but declined being transported to the nearest medical center, saying he would go by private vehicle.
[Link All Headline News]
by The Editors on August 25, 2008
Another New Smyrna Beach surfer has been nipped by a shark.
The 20-year-old surfer was towing his surfboard about 3 p.m. when the shark bit his left foot, Petersohn said. . . . He suffered four lacerations to his foot and instep and was treated on the scene just south of the 27th Street beach approach. Friends later took him to Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach, Petersohn said.
Sounds like toes in the nose. (Sadly, we’re running out of sharky, small wave jokes.)
[Link: News Journal Online]
by The Editors on August 25, 2008
Lifeguards at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area have closed Northern California’s Stinson Beach to swimmer and surfers “after a great white shark was spotted on Sunday night, according to park officials.”
The shark, which was eight to 10 feet long, was seen about 7 p.m. about 125 yards from shore. . . .“It was by a former lifeguard and fisherman, he knows what he saw, that is why we are confident it was a great white shark,” said John Ralph, the lifeguard supervisor at Stinson, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Don’t know if it’s ever that great an idea to surf at Stinson Beach.
[Link: Press Democrat]
by The Editors on July 25, 2008
This morning at around 9 AM, Ethan Fulton, 17, was surfing with some friends near the jetty in New Smyrna Beach when he was bitten on the right foot, according to the News Journal Online.
Fulton’s friends tried taking him to the hospital, but then thought better of it and called for an ambulance. EVAC ambulance paramedics met the teen at Sapphire Road and North Peninsula Avenue. . . . Fulton was treated at the scene and then taken to Bert Fish Medical Center in stable condition, O’Keefe said. The bite was serious enough that Fulton was still in surgery early this afternoon.
For those keeping track at home, this is number 15 for Volusia County this year. Last year there were only 17 bites all year.
[Link: News Journal Online]
by The Editors on July 24, 2008
Florida sure is sharky. Yesterday, at the Ponce de Leon Inlet 15-year-old Troy Zettle fell off his board and stepped on a shark. The shark then bit him several times on the left foot.
“This is the second provoked attack we’ve had this year,” Petersohn said. “He took the wave and when he landed on the sand, he stepped on the shark. It whipped around and bit him a couple of times.”
This is the 14th shark bit of the year in Volusia County. Zettle should be fine. He apparently needed a few stitches and may have some tendon damage.
[Link: News Journal Online]
