SEIZED BY SHARK

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 57, 9 March 1937, Page 4

SEIZED BY SHARK

I BROTHER'S LIFE SAVED TIGHT WITH MAN-EATEE. CIIAES GREY NURSE BY TAIL SYDNEY, Jan. 2S. An Bft. grey nurse shark, being held by the tail as it tried to get a youth in ■hallow water, turned and buried its teeth in its captor's arm. Noticing the shark making its way into Like Conjoli, near Milton, in the South Coast district of New South Wales, just after lunch, Mr. John Hensworth, of Northmead, Sydney, with his two sons, Raymond and Alar., set out in a small motor boat to attack It in shallow water. For over two hours they ch&scd it, frequently wounding it with harpoons. Eventually they drove it into a pool about 3ft deep, where Raymond Hensworth, aged 18, of Klein Road, North mead, Sydney, gripped it by the tail. His brother Alan attempted to secure its head, but at that moment two other launches which had been in the hunt bumped into the Hensworths ’ launch and knocked Alan overboard. KILLED WITH AXE. The shark attempted to get at Alan, who was in the water, but Raymond hung on to its tail. It suddenly wheeled and fastened its teeth on his left forearm. In the meantime Alan had scrambled back into the boat, and as the brut6 hung on to Raymond's arm his father killed it with a small axe. The boy was brought ashore and hurried to the Milton Community Hospital, where he was admitted by Dr. Jamieson, who inserted 12 stitches in the wound. 44 1 fell right under the shark," said Alan, “and I'll admit I lost no time in swimming for my life to another boat. I never looked back, but went flat out." Raymond held on to the tail until the shark turned on him and sank its teeth in his forearm. <4 I didn't feel the bite," he said, •'and the shark, which was exhausted from our constant prodding, let go within a few seconds and flopped back. "Then the sting became acute, and I bled freely. ’ 4 'And what did you do?" Mrs. Hensworth was asked. "I yelled with excitement while the chase was on," she answered. "Then I saw the shark bite my boy, and my knees knocked together with fright. "All last night I had one nightmare after another, and always it was a shark biting Ray. Once it had bis head in its mouth! "But now that we are home, I don't mind, lam glad, for I can think that our catch may perhaps have saved some other mother's son a fearful death." CHEERS FOR FAMILY. Heroes of four shark captures at Lake Conjola, the Hensworth family was greeted by cheering neighbours when they retu ned to Northmead. Raymond had his arm in a sling, but he was in good spirits, despite 12 stitches that had been inserted. "Catching a shark is great fun," he ?aid, "bnt chasing one alive is ?reater. Four times we went after them in a small motor boat, and four times we won."