12/20/2009 Kayak - boat ( Australia ) No Injury

[sharkbait]

Tiger shark menaces paddlers
22nd December 2009

LARGE, aggressive tiger shark menaced two kayakers as they paddled across a popular Sunshine Coast surfing and swimming spot.

The shark, believed to be 2.4 metres long, continually bumped the men’s double kayak as they paddled to shore from Mudjimba Island about 11am Sunday.

Lifesaver cleared the water while two wave runners and the Mudjimba surf club’s IRB were sent out to find the animal.

There was no sign of it but youngsters who had been out on bodyboards were brought back to the beach on wave runners while several surfers took refuge on the island.

Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast duty officer Dave McLean said the kayakers’ report appeared to legitimate.

The men had been fishing and there were suggestions the shark may have been attracted to the kayak by a fish sitting in the bottom of the vessel.

“The beach was closed for about 35 minutes,” Mr McLean said.

“People were removed from the water until the all-clear was given.”

Reports of a shark attack at Alexandria Bay about 4.30pm Sunday sent emergency services into action but it turned out a 27-year-old surfer had cut herself on her own board.

Further north, a spear fisherman was attacked by a bull shark off Heron Island.

John Pengelly, 18, from Gladstone, was bitten on his forearm by a three-metre shark after he caught a fish with two friends on Lamont Reef on Sunday.

He said he only caught a glimpse as the shark struck before his friends moved into action to stem the bleeding from the 20cm wound.

Mr Pengelly was taken to Heron Island by friends before being flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for surgery and a blood transfusion.

The Sunshine Coast shoreline is protected by 11 shark nets and 78 drumlines.

A total of 79 sharks – mostly tiger and bull sharks – were caught in 2008 – 25 more than the previous year.


http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/st ... -paddlers/