The Jeffreys Bay surfing community is reeling in shock after a man died from a shark attack while he was snorkelling in the sea at Lower Point this morning.
NSRI Jeffreys Bay responded to the scene at Lower Point at 11.30 this morning, 11 October, next to Albatros Beach, Jeffreys Bay by launching two sea rescue craft. The SAP also responded.
On arrival at the scene the remains of a body, believed to be those of an adult man, were recovered from the sea and handed over to the police and the Forensic Pathology Services.
Police are investigating. A shocked Paul van Jaarsveld from JBay was about to go spear fishing in the same area but just as he arrived on the beach he saw the NSRI and heard about the shark attack. He said, with much relief, that had he not had to repair his spear gun a half hour earlier he would have been near that fatal spot at the time of the attack.
According to a report on www. wavescape.co.za a man in a blue cap was swimming near the rocks when a big shark attacked him and pulled him further out to sea A local surfer, Terry Olivier, on his kayak spotted the victim with his head face down in the water. Olivier hit the shark with his oars but the shark would not let go of the body and kept trying to take another bite of it.
Kouga Municipality has closed all beaches following the incident and has asked people to avoid going into the sea.
A lifeguard is currently combing the bay on a jetski. There has been no further sighting of the shark and it is hoped that the noise of the jetski engine and other rescue craft used by the NSRI will frighten it away.
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