by The Editors on October 25, 2012
From the marks on his surfboard shark experts are saying that Francisco Javier Solorio Jr., 39, the surfer who died October 23, 2012, was hit by a 15-16 foot great white shark, according to a story in the LA Times.
Ralph S. Collier, a shark expert from the Shark Research Committee of Chatsworth, made the determination about the shark Wednesday after examining Solorio’s body and the board he was using when the shark attacked, according to a statement from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. . . Collier said he estimated the size of the shark based on the distance between teeth marks on the board.
That is a big one.
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on October 24, 2012
Surfer Francisco Javier Solorio Jr, 36, of Orcutt, California died Tuesday, October 23, 2012 after being bitten by a shark while surfing Surf Beach in Lompoc, California at about 11 AM, according to a story in the Greenfield Reporter.
He was bitten by the shark in his upper torso. . . Solorio “had a friend who he was surfing with who saw the shark bite or hit the man,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Mark A. Williams. “His friend ended up swimming over and pulling him from the water where he received first aid.” . . .The friend started first aid while another surfer called for help, but Solorio was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.
According to Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s Andrew Nosal quoted in the LA Times, “it was probably a great white,” Nosal said. “There is no other species swimming off of the coast regularly that could possibly do that kind of damage.”
This is the second death at Surf Beach in recent years. Lucas McKaine Ransom, 19, was killed on Friday, October 22, 2010 almost two years ago to the day of this attack. Our thoughts are with Solorio’s family and friends.
[Link: Greenfield Reporter and LA Times]
by The Editors on September 6, 2012
While it may like nearly all Florida surfers eventually get bitten by a shark, that is not the case, however, on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, a 32-year-old surfer was hit while riding waves in Melbourne Beach, according to a story in the Miami Herald.
The surfer told authorities he was paddling out from shore at Melbourne Beach when he placed his hand in the water and felt a bite. . . His hand was treated by paramedics at the beach, and he didn’t need to be taken to a hospital.
While half of the “unprovoked shark attacks” in the US in 2012 have happened in Florida, this was reportedly only the third shark attack in Brevard County this year.
[Link: Miami Herald]
by The Editors on July 31, 2012
A 48-year-old Australian surfer is reportedly in “serious condition” after being hit by a shark today (July 31, 2012) while surfing near Streaky Bay in South Australia, according to a story on NineMSN.com.au.
Police say the 48-year-old man was surfing at Back Beach at about 2.40pm (CST) when he was bitten on the arm. . . The man was in the water with a group of friends and his daughter when the shark struck, the Seven network reported.
According to the story he was transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery.
[Link: NineMSN]
by The Editors on July 23, 2012
Alexandre Ressica, 22, of La Reunion died (Monday, July 23, 2012) after having his leg bit off by a shark, according to a story in The Australian.
Fellow surfers were able to haul Alexandre Rassica, a 22-year-old local, back to the beach at Trois-Bassins on the west of the island after the attack. But when paramedics arrived he was in a state of cardiac arrest, officials said.
This is retiredly the sixth attack on humans in the past year. Our thoughts are with Rassica’s family and friends.
[Link: The Australian]
by The Editors on July 15, 2012
Ben Linden, 24, of Perth, Australia (pictured right with his girlfriend Alana Noakes) was killed Saturday, July 14, 2012 after being mauled by what experts believe was a great white shark four kilometers south of Wedge Island, according to a story in Perth Now.
The jet-ski rider who tried to retrieve the man said it was a “massive, massive white shark” and “there was blood everywhere”. . . The shark tried to knock Matt Holmes, 22, off his jet ski as he attempted to pull the surfer on to the back of the craft. Then the beast returned to take the lifeless body for a second time. . . “By the time I got out there half of him had been taken and the shark was circling,” Mr Holmes said of the attack near Wedge Island, 180km north of Perth.
Linden was reportedly the fifth person killed by a shark in less than a year. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and especially with his girlfriend Alana.
[Link: Perth Now and Sydney Morning Herald]
by The Editors on April 30, 2012
After accidentally catching a thresher shark by the tail and having it drown while trying to bring it in to unhook it, two men in New Zealand decided to tow the shark back out to sea. On the way out one of guys decided to surf the shark while it was being towed behind the boat the other shot video and posted it on Facebook, according to a story in the Otago Daily Times. That’s when everyone got upset.
Mark Collins said he regretted his decision to make a video of his friend Eddie Bithell surfing on a dead thresher shark in the Western Bay of Plenty but said the story had been misrepresented. . . Mr Wright said they had taken the dead shark to shore and left it overnight before taking to back out to sea the next day. . . “The shark had been dead for around 30 hours. It was on a separate trip, we were taking the shark back out to feed it into the food chain,” he said.
Unfortunately, the video has been removed so none of us will ever get the chance to see it.
[Link: Otago Daily Times]
by The Editors on April 20, 2012
A 28-year-old surfer was bitten on the hand while surfing last night (Thursday, April 19, 2012) in Melbourne Beach, Florida, according to a story on Florida Today.
He was paddling out when he felt something grab his left hand. He looked into the water and saw a shark of unknown species that he estimated to be five feet long. Reflexively, he pulled his hand back. . . The man attempted to drive himself to the hospital, but pulled into the Wendy’s parking lot near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Miramar Avenue and called 911.
The surfer is reportedly in stable condition.
[Link: Florida Today]
by The Editors on April 19, 2012
South African professional bodyboarder David Lilienfeld, 20, died while riding waves with his brother and some friends at Caves (Near Kogel Bay) after getting hit by a reportedly four to five meter Great White shark, according to a story on News24.com.
Lillienfield was brought ashore by bystanders and friends, but was confirmed dead at the scene by rescue personnel. . . Following the incident, witnesses claim that up to 6 sharks could be seen in the area.
Our thoughts are with Lilienfeld’s family and friends.
[Link: News24and Zigzag via Surfing Life]
by The Editors on April 5, 2012
North Shore surfer Joshua Holley, 28, survived shark attack on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, while paddling in the channel between Aligator Rock and Leftovers when what is believed to be a 10-foot Tiger shark hit him on the left leg, according to a story on Hawaii News Now.
He said the shark bit his left foot and then started swimming to the front of the board. . . “Survival mode kicked in and I punched it really hard once and then twice. I didn’t want to panic or go into shock or anything like that,” said Holley. . . “You gotta go for something vulnerable like the eyes or the gills or the snout and that usually does the trick,” said state shark specialist Randy Honebrink. . . Holley paddled in and two strangers helped him to shore. Medics took him to Wahiawa General Hospital.
Holley received 42 stitches and will have to go back for more surgery to repair two severed tendons, but we’re all glad he’s alive.
[Link: Hawaii News Now]
