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[AirBrian]

18ft shark attacks beach swimmer

Elderly South African woman feared dead

Tuesday, November 16, 2004 Posted: 4:50 AM EST (0950 GMT)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- A Great White shark estimated to be at least 18 feet long (5.5 meters) has attacked and presumably killed an elderly South African woman off a beach near Cape Town, officials said.

Tyna Webb, 77, who lived in the area, was swimming Monday off Sunny Cove in Fish Hoek when the massive shark circled her and then attacked, witnesses and officials said.

About 15 people witnessed the attack.

"All that was left was a little red bathing cap," said Paul Dennett, who witnessed the attack from his home nearby.

Dennett told the South African Press Association that he estimated the shark to be at least 18 feet long.

Rescue workers were using boats and aircraft to search for the woman's body.

"All efforts to find the lady have been exhausted by a wide and thorough search. We are hoping that police divers will be successful in their efforts," Darren Zimmerman of the National Sea Rescue Institute told the SAPA.

Crews later spotted the shark.

Great Whites often are seen in the area feeding off the large seal population.

"The shark is bigger than the helicopter ... it is huge," institute spokesman Craig Lambinon told SAPA.

Law enforcement officials advised people not to swim along the Cape of Good Hope.

A 16-year-old surfer lost his right leg in an April attack by a Great White shark in the same area.

The last confirmed, unprovoked fatal shark attack in South Africa was in 2003, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File, which has gathered such data worldwide for decades.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/11/16/shark.attack.africa.ap/index.html

That's one big shark!

 

[brooklyngooner]

I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him and kill him for ten.

 

[sefskillz]

We are hoping that police divers will be successful in their efforts

i hope they get a cage

The last confirmed, unprovoked fatal shark attack in South Africa was in 2003

wait, there has been a provoked fatal shark attack? who the fuck provokes a shark?

 

[ChumsGum]

 

[luxsol]

i hope they get a cage


wait, there has been a provoked fatal shark attack? who the fuck provokes a shark?

The Wild Boyz?

 

[Do The Mario]

Will the shark stalk her family? If so then it’s Jaws

Anyway the South African coast is full of great whites!

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

 

[BojTrek]

"We're gonna need a bigger boat."

 

[Particle Physicist]

"The shark is bigger than the helicopter ... it is huge," institute spokesman Craig Lambinon told SAPA.


holy crap

 

[speedpop]

Stupid enough to swim in Great White infested waters.

Shark: 1
Humans: 1782191

 

[open_mouth_]

Yet another case of the white shark keeping the black man down!

 

[Tritroid]

I don't care what people say, I wouldn't give a rat's ass if these creatures happened to become extinct.

Disgusting things.

 

[Marty Chinn]

If it really was 18 feet long, I'm glad to hear it in a way since it's rare to find one that big these days. People usually kill them off before they can mature to that size.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

if you live in South Africa, STOP SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN! South African waters are friggin infested with great whites.

 

[demon]

I don't care what people say, I wouldn't give a rat's ass if these creatures happened to become extinct.

Disgusting things.

I'm sure there are plenty of species that feel the same about us.

Seriously, how many shark-related deaths occur every year? A few?

 

[AssMan]

"Yet another case of the white shark keeping the black man down!"

lolololololoololololol.

 

[Ristamar]

Sharks rock. I usually find shark attacks morbidly fascinating. This one is no different...

 

[teiresias]

I don't care what people say, I wouldn't give a rat's ass if these creatures happened to become extinct.

Disgusting things.

Wahh?? They're some of the most amazing predators on the planet, at least they only kill out of instinctual feelings of survival, unlike some other "disgusting" animal I could mention.

 

[AirBrian]

Wahh?? They're some of the most amazing predators on the planet, at least they only kill out of instinctual feelings of survival, unlike some other "disgusting" animal I could mention.

"I am NOT an animal!"