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Ponta d'Ouro Shark Attack

23/12/09 ~ By Admin ~

According to witnesses the beach was in chaos after yesterdays shark attack at Ponta. (Image courtesy Frew)

A shark has attacked a 27 year old diver from Rustenburg yesterday afternoon at the world-class surfing point of Ponta d'Ouro in Mozambique. Speaking to Zigzag earlier today, Sasha Clark, a keen surfer, diver and resident of Ponta told us that the attack was not too severe.
 
"We think it was a small Black Tip or Raggie, If it had been a Great White, Zambezi or Tiger it would have been a far different story."
 
"The attack happened right after the guy was offloaded onto a shallow sand bank near the shore. When he began wading in the shark moved in for the first bite. The shark hit him on the shoulder and when he tried to fend it off it snapped onto his hand. He managed to ward the shark off and return to shore, but not before a final bite to his leg."
 
The victim was lifted by private helicopter to hospital in Richards Bay shortly after the incident.
 
The last serious shark attack at the point took place in 1998 when KZN provincial surfer Roberto Zornada was bitten on the foot by a Zambezi.


"Contrary to earlier reports, the victim did not lose an arm or leg," says Geremy Cliff, head researcher of the KZN Sharks Board. "At this stage it is difficult to determine what shark was responsible, but we suspect a Zambezi as they are often seen by divers on the deeper reefs off Ponta d’Ouro."


Life has already returning to normal at the popular Mozambique tourist spot with surfers, bathers and divers back in the water this morning.


Click here to read the report on the fatal Wild Coast attack that occurred last Friday.