A man was bitten by a shark while surfing at Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.
A bystander called for help and was provided with the access code to the NSRI shark bite kit stationed at the beach.
NSRI Jeffreys Bay rescue swimmers and medics quickly responded to the scene, and an NSRI rescue craft was prepared to be launched. Private Care ambulance services, Gardmed ambulance services, the SA Police Services and EC Government Health EMS also responded.
When NSRI medics arrived, they found that public members had already applied trauma pads to the bite wound sustained by the surfer. The patient, a 50-year-old man from Cape Town, was stable and in good spirits.
Fellow surfers brought the man out of the water and paramedics took over his care. The patient was secured onto a stretcher and transported to the hospital by ambulance for further care.
NSRI commended the swift action of the public members and the Good Samaritan fellow surfers. NSRI and Kouga Municipality are appealing to bathers, surfers, and sea users in the area to exercise caution following this incident.
The public should keep in mind, however, that shark “attacks” are a rare occurrence, where surfers are likely mistaken for the shark’s prey.
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