SHARK KILLS CHAMPION SURFER: RESCUE EFFORTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22852, 24 January 1949, Page 5

SHARK KILLS CHAMPION SURFER: RESCUE EFFORTS

SYDNEY, Jan. 24. Avoiith Ilav Land, aged about 19 years, was attacked by a shark while’ participating in a rescue and resusdtation even a Cook’s Hill Beach, Newcastle, yesterday afternoon.

Land, who was northern operi surf champion, was about oO yards from beach when the attack was made He was so severely mauled about lie lower part of the body tbat he die shortly after being admitted t Newest le H°spital. taking Part in ~T a "w aS Tht ether two men were waterTnd the patients were out at buoys when an accompanying patrol hoot ciw a shark The' natrnl boat rapidly picked up the 1 and other swimmers, but Land was attacked before the boat could reach him A young man named Roy True was on a surf ski in the vicinity.. He immediately went to Land’s assistance ancl took Land aboard the ski and paddled for the shore, but a wave overturned skL Yrus' again secured Land,

whose t e T h r “g to bring • launched and mm. A sun boat a pmj hos p ita l. was nicssag “ savs that Land was motionless when the shark struck, having iust signalled that his line had become caught on snags on the seabed An official says that Land was then 120 yards from the beach and beyond the first line of breakers. Clubmates swimming to free the line saw him flung from the water by the shark's first strike and then drawn under. He reached the surface again unaided, but died later from shock an d loss of blood. Three life-savers acting as patients were clinging to buoys 20 yards from the scene of the fatality and two Other beltmen were swimming out.