Diver airlifted to hospital after shark attack in Transkei

A diver was airlifted to hospital after a shark attack while free diving off Mdumbi Beach in the Transkei on Monday.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon, the incident happened around 14:00.

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“The NSRI were notified of a man reported to have been bitten by a shark while free diving at Mdumbi, Transkei,” said Lambinon.

He said the NSRI Mdumbi lifeguards and NSRI headquarters lifeguard instructors in the area conducting lifeguard training responded.

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“On arrival on the scene, it was found that a local adult man had sustained lacerations from a shark bite and was in stable condition.

“He was transported by private transport to a local medical clinic, where a doctor attended to him,” Lambinon confirmed.

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THE MAN, BELIEVED TO BE AGED 40, WAS AIRLIFTED TO A HOSPITAL

The man believed to be aged 40, was airlifted to the hospital in the care of EMS paramedics for further medical care.

“The NSRI and local authorities are appealing to bathers in the area to be cautious.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ATTACKED BY A SHARK:

You can do a few things to increase your odds of survival.

• Stay as calm as possible. Panicking means splashing, and splashing (to a shark) means food. Try to get back to shore, but swim as smoothly as possible. This is an excellent time to start screaming bloody murder to warn other swimmers and let people on beach know that they might want to call for help.
• When the shark is upon you, go for the eyes or the gills. If you go for the snout, you might miss and end up with your arm in its mouth. But don’t overthink it too much. The rule of thumb for surviving a shark attack is to do whatever you must to stay in one piece.
• If you’re out with a friend, get back-to-back and use your legs and fists to fight off an attack.
• As soon as the shark retreats, get back to shore and warn other swimmers to get out of the water.

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