Surfer ‘stable’ after shark attack in Jeffreys Bay today

JEFFREYS BAY – A surfer is in a stable condition following a shark attack in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, today (Wednesday 3 May).

The Cape Town man, believed to be around 50-years-old, was bitten while surfing at Supertubes. Fortunately a bystander raised the alarm at around 17h30.

The bystander requested, and was given, the access code to the NSRI shark bite kit stationed at that beach, said Paul van Jaarsveld, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander.

An eye-witness reported that fellow surfers, who had initially retreated out of the water after being alerted that there had been an incident involving a shark, had returned into the surf to fetch the casualty out of the water.

On arrival on the scene NSRI medics assisted members of the public who had already applied trauma pads to a bite wound sustained by the surfer who was safe out of the water.

The NSRI says the surfer was «stable, in good spirits and in good care».

Apart from NSRI Jeffreys Bay, Private Care ambulance services, Gardmed ambulance services, the SA Police Services and EC Government Health EMS also responded.

Paramedics took over care of the patient, and he was taken by stretcher off the beach and then transported to hospital by a Gardmed ambulance for further care.

« NSRI commend the swift action of the public members and the Good Samaritan fellow surfers, » said Van Jaarsveld.

NSRI and Kouga Municipality are appealing to bathers, surfers and sea users in the area to be cautious following this incident.

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