NSRI are appealing to spearfishermen, divers, paddlers, bathers and surfers to be cautious around seals and in particular around leopard seals after three spearfishers escaped an aggressive seal in False Bay.
According to the NSRI, Jerome Petersen, 50, Josua Joubert, 40, and Cameron Vannithing, 24, encountered an aggressive seal while spearfishing in False Bay.
The animal is believed to be a leopard seal, which is not familiar with people and can be extremely aggressive and unpredictable. It will allow you to come close but can attack at the last minute, in any direction.
The trio recounted their harrowing ordeal to NSRI as the seal seemed to target one of the divers who had to fight for their life. They were about 400m offshore, between Spaniard Rock and Caravan Reef close to Millers Point when the seal bit Petersen on his leg.
Petersen dived to the sea bed as the seal continued to relentlessly bite and bump the three spearfishermen while they tried to get back to shore. The seal broke off their flippers, disarmed them of their spearguns, causing serious puncture wounds and tissue injuries, scrapes and bruising.
The trio fought for more than half an hour before finally reaching the shore exhausted and bewildered by the event. Witnesses saw the commotion from the shore and notified the NSRI Simons Town and the Cape Medical Response (CMR) responded,
The CMR paramedics treated the divers for injuries and the NSRI recovered some of their equipment which was floating out to sea. The cause of the aggressive encounter remains unknown, but marine scientists have warned that leopard seals are known to be dangerous.
Picture: NSRI
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