2009 is off to a bad start for shark attacks

Australian swimmer recovers after shark attack

Updated Sun. May. 11 2008 10:08 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

An Australian man is recovering in hospital after being attacked by a shark while swimming in far southwestern Australia.

Jason Cull said he saw a shadow under the surface of the water, but thought it was a dolphin.

When the shark pulled him under on Saturday by grabbing a leg, he fought for his life.

"I felt along it, I found its eye and I poked it in the eye, and that's when it let go," the 37-year-old told reporters from his hospital bed in Albany on Sunday.

Albany is about 400 kilometres southwest of Perth.

Tom Marron, a spokesman for local surf lifesavers, said the attack occurred at Middleton Beach.

Beachgoers noticed three sharks on Saturday, estimating their size at up to five metres. Marron suspected the shark that attacked Cull was a white pointer.

Volunteer lifesaver Joanne Lucas went into the water to rescue Cull, he said.

"She heard the cries and splashing and knew they needed assistance and just went straight in," Marron said.

"She got hold of the injured swimmer and brought him back to shore," he said. "There was a fairly comprehensive mauling of his left leg, lost a lot of his calf, severe lacerations."

The beach has been closed.

Australia experiences about 15 shark attacks per year in its waters, one of the highest rates in the world.

On average, however, just over one per year is fatal.

A 16-year-old surfer died in April after a shark attack on Australia's eastern coast.

With files from The Associated Press

2008 attacks

An Austrian tourist died February 24, 2008 after being bitten by a shark while diving near the Bahamas in waters that had been baited with bloody fish parts to attract the predators.^[4]

A 16-year-old Australian boy died on April 8, 2008 after being attacked by a shark in the coastal town of Ballina, on the mid-coast. The boy died whilst bodyboarding when he and a friend were taking advantage of a teacher's strike; the teenager's friend is now being considered for a bravery award. The shark responsible was thought to be a bull shark.^[5]

A 66-year-old man died on April 25, 2008 off the coast of the Southern California city of Solana Beach. The species of shark was a great white shark. ^[6]

A 25-year-old man died on April 30, 2008 off the coast of Mexico. The species of shark was a nurse shark.

Surge in fatal shark attacks blamed on global warming

Science – Some experts suggest that an abundance of seals has attracted high numbers of sharks, while others believe that overfishing has hit their food chain. 'I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's a convenient excuse,' Burgess said. Another contributory factor to the location of shark attacks could be global warming and rising sea temperatures.