Tim van Heerden, a 49-year-old surfer from Plettenberg Bay, South Africa died from injuries after he was attacked by what may have been a great white shark, according to a story on Bloomberg.
Van Heerden was surfing off Lookout Beach near the Keurbooms river mouth and was with a large group of surfers, Craig Lambinon, a spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute, said in an interview on his mobile phone. Van Heerden appears to have been bitten in the groin area and the femoral artery may have been severed, Lambinon said, adding that an autopsy will be performed.
According to a story in the Sun UK, Heerden saw the shark coming in and was able to shout a warning to other surfers in the area. “But he couldn’t save himself as the beast attacked, first biting him at the top of the leg, then pulling him underwater before biting him again.”
Our thoughts are with Heerden’s family and friends.
