False Bay shark bites off lifeguard's foot

2006-08-13 14:28

Cape Town - A 23-year-old lifesaver lost his foot when he was bitten by a shark in False Bay on Sunday morning, said the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

He was flown to hospital in a rescue helicopter.

The incident took place about 11:00 off Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg.

The man, whose name was not released, is a surf lifeguard from Lifesaving SA's False Bay Lifesaving Club which was practising surf rescues at the time, said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.

He said the man was treated on the scene by medics from the lifesaving club.

"Lifeguard medics had controlled the bleeding, elevated the patient's leg and had the patient in a stable condition."

Chair of the lifesaving club, Graham Lewis, said the lifeguards were conducting a routine surf rescue exercise when the incident occurred. The man was immediately brought to shore aboard the lifeguard's rigid inflatable boat while treatment began for the injury and emergency services were called.

Lambinon said an NSRI craft in the area at the time also went to help.

"Although the injury is severe the patient is in a stable condition. He has been flown to a local hospital by the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter," said Lambinon.

He said the rescue also involved Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, False Bay EMS Metro volunteer paramedics, Emergency Medical Training Metro volunteer paramedics, Cape Medical Response paramedics, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the police and Netcare 911 Ambulance Services.

Lambinon said the attack took place about 200m offshore in "glassy, clear seas with approximately half a metre swell and a slight on-shore breeze" at a depth of 2m to 3m.

He said there was clear water visibility although there was murky water nearby due to a river mouth.

He urged bathers, surfers, paddlers and boaters to be careful along that stretch of coast.

- SAPA