SHARK MENACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 68

SHARK MENACE.

ON SYDNEY BEACHES.

THIRD ATTACK IN SIX WEEKS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 21.

The statement made by experts that sharks in Australian waters this year are particularly numerous and ferocious is fully borne out by the record of Sydney’s beaches, for the attack made on Alan Butcher at Maroubra beach last Monday was the third attack within the brief period of six weeks. The other two victims died, and at the time of writing Butcher, a youth of 20, was in a serious condition.

Great schools of sharks have been seen going up and down the coast during the last few weeks, but at this particular period of the year sharks seem to hunt singly and. come very close in shore. Naturally the three, attacks have had a very serious effect on surfing generally, and the shopkeepers at the more, popular resorts, particularly Bondi and Coogee, who look to make a harvest during the mtiggy months of January and February, complain that their trade has dropped alarmingly and that they are faced with the prospect of a heavy loss for the season. Butcher’s case was rather different from the others in that he was swimming alone a distance of 75 yards from the shore. The weather conditions were exactly similar to those when the preceding tragedies occurred—overcast sky and rough surf—and once again the time was late afternoon. Butcher was a particularly venturesome swimmer and had been frequently warned of the danger of going out so far alone. Nobody had ever been attacked by a shark at Maroubra, and when he was brought ashore Butcher said to his rescuers: “ I always knew'that if anyone was taken by a shark here it would be me.” Before he entered the water on Monday last the beach inspector reminded him of the possible presence of sharks, but as he was of a particularly happy disposition he laughed away the fears that had been expressed for his safety. Butcher proved himself to be a young man of great fortitude. His bravery was remarkable and his comments after his rescue were touching and greatly affected those who had gathered around him. • “ I don’t think I will be able to swim for a while now,” he said, smiling at the anxious faces around him. “ Anyway I suppose mother would go ‘ crook ’if I did.” The people on the beach attempted to reassure Butcher by telling him that his injuries were not serious, and Butcher, clearly in great pain, replied. “ I thought someone was having a game with me. I tried to fight the shark, but it got the better of me. Look what it did.’ ” And, pitingly, the people gazed on the great wound in his thigh extending from the hip to the knee, and his severely gashed hand which had been bitten by the monster as he attempted to beat it off. There were about 200 people on the beach at the time the shsrk made its vicious attack, and 70 persons were surfing. Butcher was the furthest from the shore—a lonely figure waiting for shoots. The shark seized him with great suddenness, and those swimming near him were , naware of what had happened until they saw blood in the water.

Butcher was a jolly fellow with a wide circle of companions, and he had a reputation for practical joking.' Consequently it was some time after he had called out that his companions, William Harrison and Harry Clay, realised the gravity of the situation’ Both men their unhesitatingly went to his assistance, and the tributes paid to their courage are unstinted. The shark was net seen after it had attacked Butcher, and as they escorted Butcher to the shore Harrison and Clay beat the water with their hands in order to ward off a further attack. Butcher was by them .in a helpless condition, btlt a fortunate shoot enabled his rescuers to reach shore much quicker than would otherwise have been the cause.

Although Butcher was seriously enough injured, he . suffered more from shock than from the actual wounds. Shock has played, an important part in the death of shark victims in the past, owing to the time that has necessarily to elapse before they are admitted to hospital. The surf authorities are now considering the provision of suitable accommodation close to the beaches so that a swimmer who has been attacked may be put to bed immediately and given the necessary attention to overcome the effect of the shock. In the meantime no practical scheme for making the beaches safe has been proposed.

A cable message received on Tuesday ■ stated that Butcher had succumbed to his injuries.