Third shark attack in two Days From SMH
www.smh.com.au/national/third-shark-attack-in-two-days-20090113-gdt9iw.htmlA 24-year-old man was attacked by a shark on the NSW South Coast today.
It is the third shark attack off Australian beaches and the second in NSW in two days.
But NSW Department of Primary Industries shark biologist Vic Peddemor has dismissed as " complete and total rubbish" shark hunter Vic Hislop's claim that over-fishing is putting humans at greater risk of shark attack.
The man was snorkelling under the Windang Bridge on Lake Illawarra when what is believed to have been a bull shark bit him on the leg, about 10.50am.
He was swimming in a school of fish when he noticed a brown shadow behind him. His leg was then bitten, NSW Ambulance spokeswoman Fiona Kruit said.
"He's punched this brown shadow and it's let go," she said.
The man told paramedics he thought it was a bull shark.
Ms Kruit said a few bull sharks had been spotted in the area recently in search of bait fish.
"He has 40-odd puncture wounds to his calf but they haven't caused any muscle or tissue damage and he's got some abrasions to his right fist where he's punched the shark," she said.
The man swam to some nearby mud flats and flagged down a boat, Ms Kruit said.
After reaching land he was taken to Shellharbour Hospital and is in a stable condition.
The attack follows two other incidents over the weekend.
Jonathon Beard, 31, of Brisbane, was surfing with friends at Fingal Beach in northern NSW about 9.30am yesterday when he was bitten on the upper left thigh.
And Hannah Mighall, 13, was saved from a five-metre white pointer off north-east Tasmania when her cousin hit the shark and took her to shore on his surfboard.
Craig Roberts, manager of lifesaving at Surf Life Saving NSW, said bull sharks, great white sharks and tiger sharks were the three species associated with attacks on humans.
"Hammerheads and grey nurses are the most sighted but bull, tiger and great white sharks are the ones that attack," Mr Roberts said.
Jonathan Dart reports: A 52-year-old man has been stung in the foot by a stingray at a popular swimming spot in the Sutherland Shire this afternoon.
An ambulance spokeswoman said ambulance officers were called to Darook Park, on Nicholson Parade in Cronulla at 3.15pm.
"He's conscious, he's breathing and he's been taken out of the water," she said. "Officers are still treating him."
The area is popular with tourists and swimmers, with young children and family groups swimming at the same area.
