A fatal shark attack at Plettenberg Bay has forced the authorities to close the beach and warn residents and surf lovers to stir clear.
According to Craig Lambinon, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson, eyewitnesses had raised the alarm about a shark attack involving a swimmer and the Plettenberg Bay duty crew was dispatched.
By the time an NSRI rescue craft was launched and rescue swimmers reached the scene, the victim, said to be a local, had already been mauled by the shark. The body was recovered from the water and taken to the NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue station.
A doctor from the NSRI examined the victim and pronounced him dead. The family of the deceased is said to be receiving counselling following the incident.
The shark attack followed months of increased shark activity in the Plettenberg Bay area. The current attack has further heightened apprehension for surfers. And with authorities keen not to see a repeat incident, the beaches are close unto further notice.
Shark attacks are almost always fatal. And South Africa is one of several countries where shark attacks are prevalent. Australia, for instance, is infamous for having the highest number of deadly shark attacks in the world.
