MAULED BY SHARK

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18947, 11 March 1927, Page 7

MAULED BY SHARK

NEWCASTLE YOUTH'S ORDEAL. TERRIBLE INJURIES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT'.) SYDNEY, March 4. While surfing with two other youths close to the shore at Mereweather Beach, near Newcastle, last Tuesday afternoon, Edward Pritchard, aged 37 year 3, was attacked and terribly mauled by a grey nurse shark. With a wound extending from his right thigh to the centre of his back, ami with his right thumb bitten off, Pritchard staggered out of the water, supported to Thomas Connell, one of his mates, who, regardless of his own safety, had rushed to the unfortunate youth's assistance. Pritchard displayed stoic fortitude. He stood up on the beach while a stretcher was brought to convey him to a nearby hotel, and while his wounds were being dressed there, preparatory to his removal to hospital, he said: "Don't worry about me. lam alright." Pritchard was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, but doctors believed that despite his terrible wound and shock he would recover. Surf Tinged With Red. ■ In an interview with Press Tepresenl,itives, ""Connell related the? events preceding and following the monster's attack. "Three of us, Pritchard, myself, and another chap named Royle," said Connell, "were out about 50 yards from the beach and were waiting for a 'shoot,' when Pritchard, who was about ten yards to my left, called out, 'Tom, come over here.' Thinking ho was having a joke, I made a laughing reply, when Eddie shrieked out., 'Help! help! For God's sake, Tom,' and thrashed the water wildly ■with his hands. I saw to my horror that the surf whore he was standing was tinged with red, and that ho was making ready to get on to a shoot that was about to break. I also managed to get the shoot and the two of us were carried about 20 yards nearer the shore. I waded over to where Pritchard, with blood streaming from him, was staggering towards tile bcacli. The water was nearly up to otir shoulders, and .supporting Eddie with an arm, I assisted him to tho SiiWl." 'ihe view expressed by eye-witnesst-s on the beach was that, the shark bit Pritcl-ard on the thigh, and that as the youth turned for an instant oil his side to ratch a "shoot" the shark attacked twice more with iTgiitniuglike vapidity. It was thought that while trying to ward off one of these later onslaughts, Pritchard's thumb was bitten off. At the time of the attack the shark was not seen, but later in the afternoon it was noticed cruising slowlv tip and down tho surf about 50 or GO yards from the shore. =========== '(