Shark attack: police open fire as beachgoer killed

Brisbane Times
February 27, 2013

New Zealand police shot at a shark which attacked and killed a person at Auckland’s Muriwai Beach on Wednesday afternoon.

SHARK ATTACK: Auckland's Muriwai Beach, where the fatal incident took place.

SHARK ATTACK: Auckland’s Muriwai Beach, where the fatal incident took place.

St John ambulance confirmed the person had died. Their body had been pulled from the water. Witnesses said police shot at the shark during the rescue attempt and it had also been pulled from the water.

I’m shaking … Everyone’s speechless

The attack happened just before 2pm local time, a person from the Muriwai Surf school, who did not want to be named, said.

A staff member at Sand Dunz dairy said people coming into the premises were “speechless”.

“I’m shaking, I don’t really want to talk about it,” the shop assistant, who didn’t want to be named, said. “Everyone’s speechless.”

The beach was crowded with children from Glen Eden Intermediate and Avondale College, a Fairfax reporter on the scene said.

Auckland City Council said the beach had been closed for the day.

There have been 14 known fatal shark attacks in New Zealand, since records began about 1837, according to Department of Conservation shark expert, Clinton Duffy.

“In the last 20 years we have been averaging two shark incidents, where the shark actually bites someone, a year.”

“Those are generally on swimmers and generally result in fairly superficial flesh wounds,” Duffy said.

The last death was in 2006, when a kayaker was mauled by a great white in the Coromandel – whether he drowned before the shark found him is still disputed. Before that the last death was in 1976.

Global shark attacks have increased every decade since 1900. Last year’s 12 fatalities, three in Australia, was almost three times the average of 4.3 from 2001 to 2010, according to the International Shark Attack File.

There are more than 60 shark species that come to New Zealand waters. The majority are little-known species that live deep below the ocean surface.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au

UPDATE :

News Video Shark Attacks New Zealand Man To Death At Muriwai Beachvid_ Shark Attacks New Zealand Man

 

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3 Comments

  1. Our condolences. Thank goodness someone finally invented a shark repellent wetsuit http://www.bozwetsuits.com/sharkboz.htm

  2. Angel

    This is a tragedy. Condolences to the family and friends.
    A  very unlucky interaction. 
    Everything, even the different news media seems to have multiple stories of the type of the shark, how many sharks were involved, how many shots fired, if the shark is dead etc.
    I am sure we will have more answers in the following days to come.
    Unfortunately it will change nothing for the victim. God Bless him.

    Mardi, it is a shame trying to advertise a product over a tragedy. 
    Sometimes I wonder, what has happened to manners, dignity and our humanity.

  3. Mark

    Mardi you have too be out of your mind to bring that up here.  A zebra print wetsuit?  That would have prevented this attack?

    Offer your condolences. It’s a sad day, not a day of opportunity. 

    The human spirit needs inspiration not garbage. 

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