Australia Shark Attack: Bodyboarder Dies After Shark Bites Off Legs

SYDNEY -- A shark bit the legs off a bodyboarder at a popular surfing spot in western Australia on Sunday, killing the man, police said. Authorities were searching for the shark as well as the man's missing limbs.

The man in his early 20s was bodyboarding with five friends when the shark attacked, a police spokesman said.

He died at the scene in the surfing haven known as The Farm, off Bunker Bay near the western town of Dunsborough. The beach was closed after the attack.

About 30 surfers were in the water when the shark attacked, according to a beachside cafe employee, Deb Pickett, who called police and an ambulance after hearing the disturbance.

"We had some sharks spotted far out at sea a few months ago, but they never come this close to the shore," Pickett said.

She said helicopters were still searching the area for the shark late Sunday, while rescue staff searched for the man's limbs, which she believed had been taken by the shark.

Local official Ian Stubbs said it was the first shark attack in the area in more than 20 years.

Comments

[observeyor]

11:58 AM on 09/30/2011

Crikey

[funksoul6]

11:15 AM on 09/27/2011

This is most definitely Bush's fault. His failure to reign in global warming has resulted in nature rising up against man.

[fourstrongwinds4]

11:28 PM on 09/07/2011

The most poisionous critters live in Australia. I'd be more afraid to live on the land than visit in the sea!

1. The Box Jellyfish

2. Irukandji (A Jellyfish)

3. Salt Water Crocodile

4. Blue Ring Octopus

5. Stone Fish

6. Red Back Spider

7. Brown Snake

8. Tiger Snake

9. Great White Shark

10. Funnel Web Spider

[Sam Esterbrook]

09:46 AM on 09/07/2011

I wonder if the shark wanted fries with the legs...to go?

[kinogod]

02:03 AM on 09/07/2011

Ruin fishes waters and food sources and fishes come looking for you.

[Tom Caine]

11:25 AM on 09/30/2011

oh, sure, it was vengence...duh. do you listen to yourself?

[Kat Ingalls]

05:54 PM on 10/06/2011

He's right though, if we take their food sources we become their food.

[Leon Engelun]

09:57 PM on 09/06/2011

Maybe all the shark attacks recently is because the sharks are mad that we threw Osama bin Laden into the ocean and they are pissed off over it.

[nimue10433]

02:12 PM on 09/06/2011

I'm sorry for the man...but poor shark who is now going to be hunted for something that comes natural to him...if he's close to shore he's chasing fish...and a surfer or body boarder does look like a sharks other favorite food seal...so you really can't blame the shark...

[Tom Caine]

11:27 AM on 09/30/2011

...and when "the poor shark" poops out the guys legs, the fecal matter will have more intellegent thoughts than you.

[brutus1065]

01:48 PM on 09/06/2011

you are playing volleyball in the jungle and a lion attacts and eats you...is that the lions fault. You stick your hand in the open mouth of crocadile and he bites off your arm...are we to blame the croc. What part of dont play near the sharks do people have trouble understanding?

[Kat Ingalls]

05:56 PM on 10/06/2011

I know, it was always crystal clear to me. Don't go in the ocean = don't get eaten by shark.

[scdellucci]

01:46 PM on 09/06/2011

Wow- what a shyttie way to go and an awful site for his freinds. Just not happy news.

[Tom Caine]

11:28 AM on 09/30/2011

fish poop.

[p38canopener]

12:16 PM on 09/06/2011

MODERATORS love covering up for those that murder children by starvation murder.

I'll bet my previous comment will never reach your eyes.

[MotorcycleBoy]

12:40 PM on 09/06/2011

gee, I wonder why.

[Guy Fratianni]

04:56 PM on 09/06/2011

As sick as your comment is what does this have to do with the shark attack?

[Tom Caine]

11:29 AM on 09/30/2011

thank you.

[ProRanger7777]

08:14 AM on 09/06/2011

Searching for his legs? Ummmmm, am I not getting something here? Guys dead? What,they want an intact body for old Clem the surfer? Sorry ma'am, we only found a knee,and both ankles, hope that helps?" Unreal.

[Jmichael Isbell]

05:14 PM on 09/06/2011

Yeah, it sounds odd, but there actually is a reason: they don't want those parts--if they are indeed not in the shark, to come washing up on the shore. So, they take a pretty quick look for decency sake, that's all they are doing. It's respect for the dead, the family and the public.

[Tom Caine]

11:29 AM on 09/30/2011

the shark stiffed them on the tab.

[CitizenIndie]

01:13 AM on 09/06/2011

"Authorities were searching for the shark as well as the man's missing limbs."

Bang! WE GOT IT! hmm.. that's not it.

Bang! We got it. doh, not it either.

Bang! We got another one. Man, this one neither.

Bang! Bang! Bang! .. "someone call my wife. We're gonna be out here awhile. You know how many sharks we got in Austrailia?"

[ROLLANDO]

05:31 PM on 09/06/2011

I doubt they will find that specific shark that killed that guy. Curious though, not that it makes any difference now, just how long does it take for a shark to digest food? Especially limbs of human and animals? It wont be long before the evidence is gone. I believe the authorities will be wasting their time now.

[CitizenIndie]

01:10 AM on 09/06/2011

A shark attack in Australia?

Man, that's rare.

[Tom Caine]

11:30 AM on 09/30/2011

correction, medium-rare! LOL

[Samiiam]

06:42 PM on 09/05/2011

We call it paying the rent. RIP

[benskelly]

02:14 PM on 09/05/2011

Ouch.