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Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:40 pm
by austroKiter

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:18 pm
by voodoospirit
may be the paddle board had tjpse electronic shark shield device? works extremely well but the radius is small (3m) otherwise, that lifeguard rocked. on the other hand, a paddle board is big so may be the shark didn t attack that 'big' floating thing.

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:58 pm
by RickI
Toby the spinner shark run is common knowledge, it happens every year. The media is shooting footage of hundreds of sharks swimming through the shadows. Beaches were being closed in the area over concern with the sharks. Sometimes you can see their shadows in the water from shore. Frequently, spinner sharks jump completely out of the water and "spin." There are balls of bait fish exploding out of the water, squadrons of sea birds are diving. There are signs that we can pick up on.

People need to learn to use their head particularly if they are concerned about sharks. We need to do our homework as there are a lot more likely causes of injury and death than sharks to kiters. Using your head and common sense will improve your odds with the lot of them too. Sharks happen to be a fairly low risk in most cases to kiters. Don't get me wrong there are lots of watermen well tuned into all of this, just not enough. I have no doubt Steve knew all about the migration and had been in them for many decades. He likely had a number of acquaintances who had been bitten but not killed. Like I said, the locals may discount the risk.

The link to the TV interview of the lifeguard, Dan Lund, also a shark attack victim very close to the same area, and a summary are at:
viewtopic.php?f=131&t=2362702&p=637522#p637522

Toby wrote:
MissionMan wrote:Just don't go into the water when you have hundreds of sharks like they did in this case.
how would you know that they are out there?


frankm1960: absoultely right...I thought the same about the lifeguards brave...he just paddled out there looking like a seal...that guy is a hero, just a shame he did it in vain.
Any interviews with that guy on the net?

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:46 pm
by kitezilla
BBQFish wrote:So what does that say when the sharks don't attack the kiter anymore when he's bleeding laying on a surfboard...but did attack him when he was in the water/ or surfing?
Seems to me like odd behaviour.
When the sharks would've been in a frenzy, they for sure would've attacked the lifeguard as well soon as he got to the victim.
And for sure when he was trying to get the hell out of there.
Good observation...

It looks like there was no observer of the moment of attack, and unless he told the rescuer when the moment of attack occurred, then, all an investigator would have to go on, would be evidence, such as you have presented above.

The facts that you have presented would lead me to believe that the attack resulted from a Bull shark mistaking the downed kiter's hands or feet for the shark's prey...so then, I would ask the question: When would the kiter's hands or feet appear to the shark as being the shark's normal prey...most likely fish? Would it be when the kiter is kicking and swimming, as in the normal activity a kiter goes through, when trying to relaunch a kite? Or would it be when the kiter is body-dragging back to his board...his body smoothly gliding through the water, with one hand sticking down, and wavering back and forth and up and down, possibly flashing reflected sunlight?

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:55 pm
by RickI
His feet weren't bitten, his behind and thigh were. Also, he did have what they think is a defensive bit to one hand. He was in the water when struck. I don't believe anyone saw the moment of the attack. He may have just wiped out and a nearby bull reacted, he may have been in the water dealing with relaunching his kite, he might have even been riding but seems less likely from past experience or ??? We may never know. You should read over the information developed to date:

viewtopic.php?f=131&t=2362702&p=637543#p637543

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:03 pm
by kitescubaski
Here is something I found searching with Google. No evidence that it works. Their research claim: To demonstrate the effectiveness of Sharkstopper’s repellent technology, the research team attached a big bloody tuna to the speaker that emitted the repellent sound. The tuna’s stayed intact for the duration of testing. Very few things can stop a Great White, so Sharkstopper was pleased with the results.

Lacks a "bit" of scientific rigor. But it may make you feel better having one strapped to your leg.
http://www.thesharkstopper.com/

Then again, there is this story: http://www.uberreview.com/2008/03/shark ... -shark.htm

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:40 pm
by nab1000
My girlfriend just doesn't get in the water because she's scared for sharks.

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:41 pm
by kitezilla
RickI wrote:His hands and feet weren't bitten, his behind and thigh were. He was in the water when struck. I don't believe anyone saw the moment of the attack. He may have just wiped out and a nearby bull reacted, he may have been in the water dealing with relaunching his kite, he might have even been riding but seems less likely from past experience or ??? We may never know. You should read over the information developed to date:

viewtopic.php?f=131&t=2362702&p=637543#p637543
"A report by the Martin County Sheriff's Office said Schafer had suffered an 8- to 10-inch bite on the thigh, bites on the buttocks and apparent defensive wounds on the right hand."

This is what I was remembering...it's easy not to get the details straight...thanks for the link, Rick.

"Defensive wounds" could have been cuts to the hand from punching the hard, sharp, 'denticle' plates of the sharks' skin... or could have been broken finger or hand bones from the same kinds of defensive activity.

Re: shark attack prevention?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:46 pm
by mobettah
Toby wrote:
MissionMan wrote:Just don't go into the water when you have hundreds of sharks like they did in this case.
how would you know that they are out there?


frankm1960: absoultely right...I thought the same about the lifeguards brave...he just paddled out there looking like a seal...that guy is a hero, just a shame he did it in vain.
Any interviews with that guy on the net?

Here is a written interview with the lifeguard and there is link to a video interview.....

http://tinyurl.com/y9nxedd

Autopsy results

http://tinyurl.com/yaoffkk

My condolences to his family and friends at this time.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:26 pm
by kitenaked
Condolences to his family and friends.

It doesn't change what happened though it sounds like he was doing somthing that he loved.


Kite Naked