By Dr Berend Maarsingh – NSRI Knysna Station Doctor - July 1999

SHARK ATTACKS IN THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN CAPE

World wide there are probably 50 - 75 shark attacks annually resulting in about 5 - 10 deaths.

In 1998 alone we had 14 attacks on swimmers, surfers and divers in the Southern and Eastern Cape (that’s between Saldanha and East London). This represents a major increase in attacks compared with our annual average. There were 3 attacks between Plettenberg Bay and Buffalo Bay in 1998 and 2 of these attacks were by the Great White Shark. Nearly 80% of the attacks on our part of the coast involved surfers and body boarders, nearly 15% involved swimmers and nearly 5% involved snorkelers / divers.

Although the statistics show a major increase in shark attacks lately, yet it is insignificant compared to other forms of trauma and injuries (i.e. motor vehicle accidents - ± 10 000 killed on the roads in S.A. during 1998). The press, largely, contributed to the upswing in public awareness during the last 50 years of shark attacks.

South Africa hosts about 100 shark species of about 500 species hosted around the world. Only 3 species, however, have been repeatedly implicated as the primary attackers:

- the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias),
- the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvieri) and
- the bull shark (Zambezi) (Carcharinus leucas).

Others that will only attack if provoked are the Mako, Hammerhead, Ragged Tooth and Oceanic White tip.

The people who seem to attract the most attention from sharks are not surf swimmers, but scuba divers, particularly spear fishermen. We spot sharks on at least 50% of dives in the Knysna area, and usually, those we spot, are not dangerous to man. Sharks don’t normally do unpredictable things, and humans are not on their menu.

There are 3 major kinds of unprovoked shark attacks:

1. "Hit and run": on swimmers in the surf zone, probably because of mistaken identity. The injuries are mild and the sharks do not return.
2. "Bump and bite": person is bumped before the attack; repeat attacks are not uncommon and the injuries are severe. These attacks are the results of feeding.
3. "Sneak attack": as above, but without the "bump".

The increase in the number of attacks in the colder Cape waters on surfers and divers reflects the growth in these activities - better quality neoprene wet suits, diving and surfing gear. Board riders and divers are most vulnerable, because they spend more time in the water and venture deeper.

Black December 1957, and the following Easter, during which a substantial number of people were attacked, led to the forming of the Natal Sharks Board - now a world authority on sharks and their research.

How to avoid a shark attack - guidelines.

1. Swim in a group.
2. Do not swim in water frequented by sharks.
3. Do not swim with open and bleeding wounds or during menstruation.
4. Avoid low visibility water and water that contains effluent or sewerage.
5. Avoid deep channels or drop-offs to deeper water, as this provide easy access for a shark.
6. Do not swim far offshore.
7. Leave the water if fish are behaving erratically.
8. Do not take comfort in sighting dolphins.
9. Avoid uneven tanning , as sharks are attracted to uneven shades.
10. Avoid swimming with animals (dogs).
11. Look around before jumping from a boat.
12. At low tide, take note of nearby sandbar or reef that could have entrapped a shark.
13. Avoid swimming at sunrise or sunset.
14. Avoid extremely bright colours for swimwear.
15. Never harass a shark.
16. Do not wear shiny jewellery.

 Advice to divers:

1. Never dive alone.
2. Do not provoke any sharks.
3. Remove speared fish from the water ASAP.
4. Do not spear in the same water for extended periods.
5. Use smooth finning strokes, control breathing and remain submerged.
6. Use a shark billy if needed.
7. Never trap a shark.
8. Stay in a group.
9. Avoid dusk and night diving.

 Pathology

The injuries are as follows:

1. consist of a huge open wound,
2. huge ragged wounds,
3. limb amputations,
4. major or minor lacerations and
5. skin abrasions.

 The management of shark attacks:

1. Get the victim out of the water.
2. Get trained help immediately.
3. Lay victim flat.
4. Stop the bleeding:

4.1 digital pressure - wounds and pressure points,
4.2 pressure bandage,
4.3 tourniquet.

5. Control shock:

5.1 Airway.
5.2 Proper ventilation and breathing.
5.3 Adequate circulation.
5.4 Administer 100% oxygen if available.
5.5 Elevate non-injured limbs.
5.6 Splint injured limbs.
5.7 Prevent hypothermia - space blanket.
5.8 Set up IVI lines with Ringers and Haemacel.
5.9 Stabilise patient before transporting.

DO NOT rush a shocked, actively bleeding victim to the hospital - he will surely die.

I would like to thank Geremy Cliff for supplying some of the material used in compiling this article.

SOURCES

1. Cliff, G. Shark attacks Southern and Eastern Cape 1998. Natal Sharks Board.
2. 1996. The international shark attack file. Florida Museum of Natural History.
3. Cliff, G.1991. Shark attacks on the South African Coast between 1960 and 1990.
4. 1996. Comments on means for avoidance or deterrence of white shark attacks on humans.
5. Kayle, A.1994. Safe diving. London: Viking.
6. Pinnock, D. 1999. Lords of the sea, Getaway (vol 10 no. 12).
7. Burgess, G.H. 1990. Discovering sharks, Shark attacks and the international shark attack file.

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