SHARKS AND SURFERS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17408, 20 March 1922, Page 8

SHARKS AND SURFERS.

*— another terrible struggle IN SYDNEY. (from our own correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 8.

| Sharks are swarming off the beaches of Sydney, and last Thursday tho ' fourth shark tragedy during the present season occurred.

At Coogoe again, Mervyn Gannon, a motor-mcchanic, aged 21 years, was surfing with about 30 other bathers less than 10 yards from sand, and in 4tt of water, when a shark suddenly charged at him in the crest of a roUer. Gannon strove to beat it off with his fists but the shark bore down almost on top of him, and tore his right hand oil at the wrist. The blood from Gannon's mutilated forearm reddened tlio surf and this, appeared to infuriate the'shark,' which again made at Gannon and bit off all the fingers of his left hand. Gannon still fought hard, and, in spite of tho danger, assistance was quickly forthcoming. "Jack" Brown, a life-saver employed by tho local Council, saw the fin of a shark coming through the water in Gannon's direction, and ho dashed to Gannon's aid. Brown was accompanied by Ernest Carr, a well-known surfer. Tho two swimmers quickly reached Gannon, who was then further out, and was'still beating at the shark with the bleeding stump of his right wristBrown and Carr seized Gannon by the arms and dragged him towards tho beach. Thiß called for the utmost courage, aa tho shark was less _ than 6ft away. "Come quickly, Brownie," called Gannon in a weak voice, and a second later tho shark made a rush at tho three men. The horrified surfers thought that the three men would be killed, as the shark speedily overhauled them. The monster seized Gannon by the shoulder and tore open his back to tho waist. Lashing the water furiously, the shark followed the trio, and its teeth closed on Gannon's thigh, lacerating it frightfully. Brown and Carr with great courage stuck to tho injured man,. and eventually got him ashore. Gannon was hurried to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he died from his terrible injuries. j The feat of Brown in facing the shark at close quarters in shallow water rivals | that of Chalmers, who brought in Alston Coughlan, tho victim of the shark tragedy a few weeks ago. Life-savers expressed the opinion that the shark was the same as that which ' killed I Coughlan. and. that it was attracted to | the crowded beach in its pursuit of a I shoal of salmon which appears at Coogee at this time each year. Surfing waa j abandoned for the rest of the day, i The shark scare in Sydney is now j general, and there has since this last' tragedy been a heavy falling-off in the I number of patrons of the surf beaches.