Residents react to shark attack

2004-11-17 09:31

Abigail Isaacs

Fish Hoek - A number of people say they will never set foot in the water again at Fish Hoek, where a 6m shark attacked 78-year-old Tyna Webb on Monday.

Brad Burch, a Fishhoek resident, said: "I think they must kill the shark. I won't go into the water again. We need shark nets."

Burch said sharks in False Bay posed a huge risk to children and surfers in particular.

Susan Rabe, another resident, said she would swim in the sea again.

"But I will be more careful. We humans enter the sharks' territory and we should show them the necessary respect."

She blamed the increased number of shark attacks on chumming - shark cage diving operators who lure sharks with bait.

"The only way in which we will prevent similar attacks is to put an end to these operators' activities."

Cheryl Robinson and her husband, Peter, of Manchester, England, said the attack on Webb would keep them out of the Cape sea, but won't keep them from holidaying in Cape Town.

Tony Whittaker of Kenilworth and friend Graham Rothman of Fishhoek were very disappointed when they weren't allowed to swim on Tuesday.

"The water is wonderfully warm. We come for a swim nearly every day, but we do not understand why swimmers are not allowed into the water.

"Hopefully we will be able to swim on Wednesday," Whittaker said.

A News24 poll indicated that 57% of respondents would swim in the sea again because the attack was "an exceptional incident".

Another 33% said that they would swim anywhere except at Fish Hoek. Ten percent said they would never swim in the sea again.

- Die Burger