A DREADFUL FATALITY AT RAPIER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3008, 21 December 1896, Page 2

A DREADFUL FATALITY AT RAPIER.

A Well-known Resident Rilled by a Shark while Bathing. His Body Horribly Vutilated. Bg Telegraph.—Press Association. Napieu, December 20. - A moat shocking fatality occurred this morning. Mr Bright Cooper, of the firm of Cooper and Abbott, sheep farmers, went with others to bathe on the beach. Ho was a strong swimmer and went out about 2-5 yards, when his companions, who were nearer the shore, saw the fin of a largo shark near him. They called out to him, and macro their way to the shore and threw stones to frighten the shark. They were horrified to see the water suddenly discoloured with blood, though Cooper did not call out, and there was no struggle or splashing. The body was next seen drifting, and Cooper’s companions swam in and brought it to shore. ? The poor fellow was alive, bat unconscious, and died in a minute or two. His left arm was bitten clean off at the elbow and the right at tb© wrist. A large bite had been taken out of the left aide, and both legs and other parts of the body were also bitten. Cooper was a young man of 2S, prominent in athletic circles, and very pepalar. He was a bachelor, and his relations live in Eng* laud and Cape Colony.