SHARK HORROR.
YOUTH fatally attacked.
IN SHALLOW' WATER.
SYDNEY, March 15. Sydney’s latest shark horror has brought home to Sydney surfers, as no other similar tragedy has done, the. dangers to which they expose themselves every time they enter the water at the unprotected beaches. When Frank Athol Riley, who. was only 16 years of age, was killed by a shark on Monday, afternoon last, he was not even swimming out of his depth, but was standing in water that was up to his armpits. And he was not a tall lad. Further than that he was surrounded by bathers. It has been the general belief that a shark will not come, inside the first line of breakers, and that sharks are too' timid to venture among a crowd of swimmers. So-called authorities on the habits of sharks will now have to adjust their views, but it remains to be seen whether the surfers will take heed of the tragedy and-patronise only those beaches which have bee*i provided with shark-proof nets. Monday’s • tragedy occurred .at Deewhy, which is along the coast north of Manly, and a shark tragedy . had never before occurred at this particular beach. As a matter of fact, sharks have seldom been seen there, and this may have given a false sense of secur- j ity. The fact remains that young Riley was not of the venturesome class. J These shark tragedies always produce a hero, and the hero of this week’s tragedy was undoubtedly Eugene Laurence O’Toole, the permanent lifesaver on the Deewhy : Beach, who showed amazing courage in going to the rescue of Riley. There was only a light surf when the attack was made, and under a glaring sun, with little or no wind, the sea all over the bay was calm. There were 30 or 40 surfers in ‘ the water, and Riley was standing with his brother waiting an opportunity for s ‘'shoot.” A huge black fin suddenly broke the water a few yards from where the brothers were standing. It is estimated that the shark was at least 14 feet long. It circled round a number of swimmers, who scarcely had time to realise their danger, and then struck at Riley. Its mouth was so enormous that at one bite it took off the hoy’s leg and buttock. Young Riley shouted, ana then splashed his arms in an endeavour to reach the shore. His injuries, however, were of such a dreadful nature that he could do little. O’Toole had to enter the blood-stained water within a few feet of the shark in order to effect a rescue. Even while the shark was still engaged in his vicious attack O’Toole did not hesitate. When he reached Riley the lad was almost nn conscious, and it was quickly seen that there was practically no hope of his recovery. Here is O’Toole’s story :—“I was standing on top of the steps near the surf shed watching the bathers in case any of them , should be carried out. I heard screams and I saw, Riley sink. The water immediately became red, and the foam of the breakers passing Riley were red almost to the beach. I ran down to the beach to the reel, seized the belt, and rushed out to Riley. The shark let him go when I was close. 1 got hold of Riley and began to drag him back towards the beach. The shark’s fin stood well out of the water as it cruised about 12 feet away from us. When I got into shallow water others assisted me to get Riley ashore. Riley's leg and part of his body had beer, torn away. I shouted for towels and a number were brought to me, but Riley was nearly dead. He murmured, “It got me. It’s gone,’ and then he must have died. He was dead before we got him to the club house. Laurence Shields, who was swimming with Riley, gave a vivid account ol the attack. “Frank and I have been friends for four years,” he said. “Wt usually swam together. We were out about 25 yards looking lor ‘shoots,’ bui • the surf was very weak. We missed one wave, and Frank said he would wait for the next. The* - water was only a little above our waists, and wi began to swim out. Frank was about four feet from me on my left. Suddenly I saw a fin and part of the back of a shark between Frank and myself. A line of foam and spray from the tin showed that it had circled round Frank before coming between us. The shark was so close to me that I could havt put. my hand on its back. I had hardly realised what was happening when tin I shark suddenly attacked Frank. 11, had no time to call for help before lit was dragged under the water. He dis appeared completely and the water above him became red. Then he reappeared on the surface. The shark still hac! him by the leg. Frank was splashing with his arms- and making desperate efforts to reach the shore. The shall kept jerking him backwards and forwards. Frank continued his efforts to escape. He kept calling i n a hoarse voice: ‘Shark! Shark! Oh! Oh!’ ] knew I could do nothing for him, and I swam towards the beach. I was in shallow water when the shark bi-1 1 went. ’
For hours after the tragedy the shark cruised in the bay, and at times, according to some accounts, it-swam around in 18 inches of water, very close to the beach. Excited crowds pointed out the long fin as the monster swam up and down. Efforts were made by local fishermen to catch the monster, and it is believed that it was actually hooked on one occasion. The shark escaped by breaking the line. At nightfall it was still patrolling the beach, and means of capturing it were eagerly dtscussed, but nothing was aecom pushed.
Since 1919 there have been 22 recorded attacks by sharks in the coastal and harbour waters of New South Wales. _ These haye resulted in 14 deaths, including, three fishermen whose boat was attacked by sharks The worst year was 1929, when four' persons lost their lives—two at Bondi, one at Maroubra, and one at White Bnv. White Ba(y is in the harbour area. There have been two previous attacksthis year, one at Queensieliff, near Manly, and "the other in the upper reaches of . the George’s River. Both the victims have recovered.
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Bibliographic details
Western Star, 10 April 1934, Page 4
Word Count
1,090SHARK HORROR. Western Star, 10 April 1934, Page 4
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