SHARKS AND SURFERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18508, 20 March 1922, Page 6

SHARKS AND SURFERS

ANOTHER TERRIBLE STRUGGLE IN SYDNEY. (From Oon Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 9. Sharks are swarming off tlic beaches of Sydney, and last Thursday the fourth shark tragedy during the present surfing season occurred. At Coogee again, Mcrvyn Gannion, a motor medianic, aged 21 years, was surfing with about 30 other bathers less than 10 yards from the sand, and in 4ft of water, w'hon a shark suddenly charged at him on the crest of a roller. Gannon strove to beat it off with his fists, but the shark bore down almost on top of him, and tore his right hand off at the wrist. The blood from Gannion’s mutilated forearm reddened the surf, and this appeared to infuriate the shark, wliioli made again at Gannon and bit off all the fingers of Ids left hand. Gannon still fought hard, and in spite of the danger assistance was quickly forthcoming. “Jack” Brown, a life-saver employed by the local council, saw the fin of a shark coming tlixough the water in Gannon’s direction, and he dashed to Gannon’s aid. Brown was accompanied by Ernest Carr, a well-known surfer. The two swimmers quickly reached Gannon, who was then further out, and was still beating at the shark with the bleeding stump of his right wrist. Brown and Carr seized Gannon by the arms and dragged him toward the beach. This called for the utmost courage, as the shark was less than 6ft away. “Como quickly, Brownie,” called Gannon in a weak voice, and a second later the shark made a rush at the three men. The horrified surfers thought that the three men would be killed, ns the shark speedily overhauled them. The monster seized Gannon by the shoulder and tore open his back to the waist. Lashing the water furiously, the shark followed the trio, and its teeth closed on Gannon’s thigh, lacerating it frightfully Brown and Carr, with great courage, stuck to the injured man, and eventually got him ashore. Gannon was hurried to ■St Vincent’s Hospital, where he died from his terrible injuries. • The feat of Brown in facing the shark at close quarters in shallow water rivals that of Cnalmers, who brought in Milton Coughlon, the victim of the shark tragedy a few weeks ago. Life-savers expressed the opinion that the shark was the same as that killed Coughlan. and that _it was attracted to the crowded beach in its pursuit of a shoal of salmon which appears at Coogee at this time each year. Surfing was abandoned for the rest of the day. The shark scare in Sydney is now general, and there has since this last tragedy been a heavy falling-off in the number of patrons of the surf peaches.