A SHARK HOAX

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2667, 8 September 1937, Page 7

A SHARK HOAX

SYDNEY NEWSPAPER A VICTIM “RESCUE” THAT DID NOT OCCUR Sydney enjoyed a great newspaper joke last month, obviously the work of a practical joker, who thrust fame on a seaman of the Royal Australian Navy.

The Sun, the city’s only evening paper, came out on a Monday in a new “dress,” modelled on that of the Melbourne Herald. It had for its principal news item on page one, and also on its poster, the story of the heroic rescue of a naval rating by a comrade, who fought off a shark in Jervis Bay, after the two men and 12 others had been thrown into the water, when their boat overturned. According to the Sun, Able Seaman Oberg was close to Able Seaman Tyrell, who could not swim, had given Tyrell his life-belt, and then, when approached by a shark, had twice beaten off the monster with a calcium flare taken from the lifeboat. Embellished with graphic details, the story made wonderful reading, and it seemed that a new occupant had qualified for a place in Australia’s gallery of heroes. The next day the Sydney Morning Herald preserved a dignified silence about the incident, but the Daily Telegraph “blew the gaff.” One of its reporters interviewed Able Seaman Oberg and found that the only true thing in the Sun’s report was the tumbling of the 14 men into the water in a boat accident. But the men had been sescued quickly without further untoward incident. And even that had

happened, a fortnight earlier! At no time during the episode did any member of the ship’s company see a shark. “I haven’t the vaguest idea where the story originated” said Oberg.

“The first I knew about it was after it had been printed. Tyrell is a firstclass swimmer and he certainly had a lifebelt on. Anyhow, I can assure you if a shark had come anywhere near me there would have been no need for the launch to have picked me up. I’d have just passed out on the spot. I certainly did not jab at the supposed shark with a calcium flare.”

So Sydney chuckled and an unknown hoaxer doubtlessly gloated over his gay deceit of a too-enterpris-ing- journalist.