MillersLocal
  • Home
  • Latest Shots
  • Blog
  • Comp news
  • Surf Report
  • SurfGuide
  • PHOTOS
  • Vintage
  • Enviro
  • Shop

Blog

Sunday Bloody Sunday

1/15/2012

 
Picture
Lifeguards and bystanders bring the victim in to shore on a surfboard
Eish, yet another shark attack at Port St John's. Sunday saw a 25 year old swimmer get attacked by a suspected Zambezi in waist deep water at 2nd beach, Port St John's. This notorious 900m strip of beach has the infamous reputation of being the shark attack capital of the world, with 7 fatal attacks.

The man was pulled from the surf, and a doctor was on the scene immediately, but he succumbed to blood loss. Our condolences to his family. Ironically yesterday's death is exactly a year to the day from the last fatal attack at the beach. This time last year a lightie who'd made the Border surf team was attacked and died from his injuries.

Despite shark attacks being far rarer than things like drowning (22 people drowned in the first week of January 2012 in South Africa) or car accidents (on average 39 people died each day on our roads over the holidays), it's still something that freaks us out pretty bad - given we enter the proverbial food chain every time we surf. (THnaks to 

Nonetheless, we have to remember we aren't on the menu for these guys 99.9% of the time. The majority of Great White "attacks" are actually investigative encounters (which unfortunately do often tend to turn out bad for the victim due to blood loss), or in the case of the Zambo's - often a case of mistaken identity - peeps swimming in murky water near river mouths which is prime feeding territory for these sharks.

Whilst I appreciate that the ocean is the sharks territory, I also think we're entitled to use it without being a high risk stat....in the case of Second Beach surfing offers a welcome distraction to many impoverished youths who'd otherwise be getting up to kak, so to say that they have to stop surfing is pretty hectic. Imagine if suddenly you were told you could no longer surf at your home break? Inconvenient yes, but all we'd need to do is drive a bit further to another break. However, these guys don't have the luxury of transport - so it's Second Beach or nothing. So how can the beach be made safer for them?

On another sad note, a 15 year old boy drowned at Clubhouse yesterday arvo. Many of the guys saw the NSRI boat trawling the backline and wondered what was up. There was apparently a hectic rip out there, a combo of the swell and the east.

Keep your eye's peeled when you out in the surf on hectic days like this, cos you might just spot someone who needs a lift on your board. 
Picture
NSRI trawling the backline at Clubhouse. Image Dirk Erasmus.
Gordon
1/15/2012 03:59:07 pm

We had to help a 70yr old guy at Seals over December that had been dumped head first into a sand bank. He was bleeding and concused(spelling). The so-called lifeguards on duty were absolutely pathetic. They had no clue on how to deal with a head / neck trauma, luckily there were a couple of us that have our SPAs for lifesaving that could help out. The lifeguards stood there looking on in bewilderment as we helped. They had no form of communication so could therefore not get hold of the local quack nor emergency services. God forbid someone get bitten at Seals because that person will bleed out on the beach. May I suggest a column for ML regarding the pathetic state of the lifesaving industry these days. In Durbs it used to be a proffession, like a fireman or cop, the guys used to get housing allowances, vehicles etc. Now its a shambles. Shot Gords.

TImm Parkin
1/15/2012 04:04:02 pm

Very Sad,our thoughts and prays for the family's..

Millerslocal
1/15/2012 06:36:48 pm

Eish Gords, that sounds scary. Not sure who manages the lifeguards out at Seals. Assume it falls under Kouga municipality - will find out and inquire as to lack of training. Luckily our guys here in the bay are pretty jacked up. Well trained and all with walkie talkies etc.

Millerslocal
1/15/2012 06:46:25 pm

Here's the requirements that went out in the tender for the lifeguards over the season:
24X SURF LIFEGUARDS - OTHER BEACHES IN THE KOUGA MUNICIPAL AREA

"Lifesaving experience is essential.
A valid Surf Proficiency Award Qualification is required - (to be attached to application form).
Must be willing to undergo an interview process.
Must be physically fit - (subject to fitness evaluation).
First Aid qualification (Level 1/ 3 and/or Level 5).
42 day seasonal contract from 5 December 2011 to 15 January 2012"
So looks like they shoulda had SPA's at least, but one thing having the piece of paper - another having a clue about what to do in an emergency. Plenty times I saw em sleeping in the dunes! And no excuse for lack of communications.

cstrange
1/15/2012 09:45:38 pm

A year ago to the day? Now this is freaky because it is almost a year ago to the day that the last attack happened, ie three years in a row on the same day. I used to surf 2nd beach all the time when I lived in PSJ, the rivermouth was just out of the question, waaaayy too sharky, seems I was wrong! Pity for thou's family and for the surfers there.


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    LATEST POSTS
    More posts HERE

    Author

    Millerslocal

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Latest Shots
  • Blog
  • Comp news
  • Surf Report
  • SurfGuide
  • PHOTOS
  • Vintage
  • Enviro
  • Shop