This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/09/man-killed-in-shark-attack-at-byron-bay
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Man killed in shark attack at Byron Bay | Man killed in shark attack at Byron Bay |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police and emergency services were this afternoon hunting a large shark at Clarkes beach at Byron Bay that killed a local 50-year-old swimmer. | Police and emergency services were this afternoon hunting a large shark at Clarkes beach at Byron Bay that killed a local 50-year-old swimmer. |
| The man, whose name has not been released, was swimming in the shallows on the eastern side of Byron Bay’s main beach when he was attacked. | The man, whose name has not been released, was swimming in the shallows on the eastern side of Byron Bay’s main beach when he was attacked. |
| At a press conference at Clarkes beach this afternoon, Tweed-Byron Inspector Bobbie Cullen said that at approximately 10:45am, police were called after a man was dragged from the water with severe injuries to his right leg. | At a press conference at Clarkes beach this afternoon, Tweed-Byron Inspector Bobbie Cullen said that at approximately 10:45am, police were called after a man was dragged from the water with severe injuries to his right leg. |
| “He was a Byron Bay local on his own swimming, and his wife was on beach at the time of the attack,” said Cullen. | “He was a Byron Bay local on his own swimming, and his wife was on beach at the time of the attack,” said Cullen. |
| Witnesses told Guardian Australia that the woman appeared to be in a highly distressed state as paramedics and police attended the scene. | Witnesses told Guardian Australia that the woman appeared to be in a highly distressed state as paramedics and police attended the scene. |
| A man, who police did not identify, tried to save the swimmer by dragging him from the water and onto the sand, but he died at the scene. | A man, who police did not identify, tried to save the swimmer by dragging him from the water and onto the sand, but he died at the scene. |
| “The man showed extraordinary bravery in trying to rescue the victim,” said Cullen. | “The man showed extraordinary bravery in trying to rescue the victim,” said Cullen. |
| Newcastle lawyer, Mark Hickey, was identified by News Corp as the manwho tried to rescue the swimmer. He told a reporter he rushed into thewater to help the man. | |
| He said he saw a six-or-seven foot shark menacing the victim. | He said he saw a six-or-seven foot shark menacing the victim. |
| “I saw what looked like seaweed but it was blood in the water,” he said, adding that it was likely that the victim died in the water. | “I saw what looked like seaweed but it was blood in the water,” he said, adding that it was likely that the victim died in the water. |
| “The shark came back to him and had another go. I didn’t know it was a person but when I realised I ran out and waded to the bank and grabbed him and did CPR but it was too late.” | “The shark came back to him and had another go. I didn’t know it was a person but when I realised I ran out and waded to the bank and grabbed him and did CPR but it was too late.” |
| According to New Corp, the victim was brought back to the beach on a surf ski but could not be saved. | According to New Corp, the victim was brought back to the beach on a surf ski but could not be saved. |
| Lifeguards spotted a shark in the water off the beach, believed to be a great white. | Lifeguards spotted a shark in the water off the beach, believed to be a great white. |
| Channel Nine news tweeted photographs of the shark. | Channel Nine news tweeted photographs of the shark. |
| Helicopter footage showed the shark to be swimming close to the shore. | Helicopter footage showed the shark to be swimming close to the shore. |
| Police erected a tarpaulin around the man and sealed the area with crime scene tape. | Police erected a tarpaulin around the man and sealed the area with crime scene tape. |
| Cullen said police and Lifesaving Australia acted quickly to shut the beach down. | Cullen said police and Lifesaving Australia acted quickly to shut the beach down. |
| But the signs on the beach were spaced far apart and did not indicate the reason for the beach closure. | But the signs on the beach were spaced far apart and did not indicate the reason for the beach closure. |
| Backpackers Rafi Mitchell and his friend Steven Miller said: “We didn’t see any signs about the shark attack and jumped in but we thought it was really strange that we were the only people swimming.” | Backpackers Rafi Mitchell and his friend Steven Miller said: “We didn’t see any signs about the shark attack and jumped in but we thought it was really strange that we were the only people swimming.” |
| They were later warned to come in from the beach by another tourist. | They were later warned to come in from the beach by another tourist. |
| Life-saving season is not due to start in Byron Bay until next week, meaning that the beach was unpatrolled. | Life-saving season is not due to start in Byron Bay until next week, meaning that the beach was unpatrolled. |
| Guardian Australia spoke to local man, Richard Buxton, 70, who was walking along the shore in black speedos and a pink swimming cap, who was still keen to swim. | Guardian Australia spoke to local man, Richard Buxton, 70, who was walking along the shore in black speedos and a pink swimming cap, who was still keen to swim. |
| “The odds of someone else getting attacked now are very small. That there’s been a shark attack will not stop me from swimming,” he said. | “The odds of someone else getting attacked now are very small. That there’s been a shark attack will not stop me from swimming,” he said. |
| “It’s not the sharks fault,” Buxton added before looking around at the closed beach and the choppers flying low overhead. “But I don’t think I’ll go in now.” | “It’s not the sharks fault,” Buxton added before looking around at the closed beach and the choppers flying low overhead. “But I don’t think I’ll go in now.” |
| The police were hoping to “chase” the shark from the beach rather than cull it. | The police were hoping to “chase” the shark from the beach rather than cull it. |
| “If it is a great white it is protected and we follow procedures,” said Cullen. | “If it is a great white it is protected and we follow procedures,” said Cullen. |
| The police said they were not aware of previous shark sightings in the area and were in the process of notifying the man’s family. | The police said they were not aware of previous shark sightings in the area and were in the process of notifying the man’s family. |
| Meanwhile the sun shone in Bryon Bay after a fortnight of poor weather, yet the water remained empty and two search helicopters flew low overhead. | Meanwhile the sun shone in Bryon Bay after a fortnight of poor weather, yet the water remained empty and two search helicopters flew low overhead. |
| Byron Bay local Sally Howell said: “Everyone is shaken. We are waiting for his name to be released. The beach is a crucial part of life here and the bay was always seen as one of the safest places to swim. We are all just in shock.” | Byron Bay local Sally Howell said: “Everyone is shaken. We are waiting for his name to be released. The beach is a crucial part of life here and the bay was always seen as one of the safest places to swim. We are all just in shock.” |
| The last fatal shark attack in the area was in 1993. | The last fatal shark attack in the area was in 1993. |
| Police are preparing a report for the coroner. | Police are preparing a report for the coroner. |