Re: 11/05/2000 Ken Crew ( Australia ) ***Fatal***
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:40 am
Family, friends remember Ken Crew shark attack
Article from: PerthNow
Glenn Cordingley
November 01, 2008 05:00pm
EIGHT years since West Australians were shocked by a fatal shark attack at North Cottesloe Beach, family and friends remember Ken Crew.
DIRK Avery still swims at Cottesloe daily.
Not far from the waves and foam and around the same time each morning, Robin Crew takes a walk along the famous beach.
Sometimes they stroll together.
They meet afterwards at the nearby cafe Barchetta, which overlooks the Indian Ocean and the scene of the WA's most savage shark attack.
In front of other bathers, early morning joggers and cafe diners -- and with his wife walking along the same beach -- Ken Crew was attacked by a massive white pointer in waist-deep water at 6.20am on November 6, 2000. His right leg was ripped from his body.
Minutes later, the 49-year-old father of three died on shore in the arms of Father Brian Morrison. He had bled to death.
The shark also turned on Mr Crew's swimming pal, Mr Avery, who scrambled on to a reef and kicked at it with his feet.
He needed 75 stitches and skin grafts for severe wounds.
Eight years on, Mrs Crew and Mr Avery meet almost daily at North Cottesloe.
Mrs Crew, of Mosman Park, said the years following her husband's death had been difficult for her and children Rebecca, 30, Andrew, 25, and Aimee, 22.
She said: ``My children are very fragile and I respect that.
``My eldest was very sick after he died. They are just coping the best they can, and it is quite difficult.''
Brian Farley, 52, was another swimmer that fateful, misty morning. But he became a hero when he flung himself into the blood-clouded water to drag Mr Crew to the beach.
The Bicton man was awarded the Star of Courage, the second-highest of Australia's bravery decorations, for his ``act of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril''.
Mrs Crew stays in regular contact with a number of friends who saw the shark attack.
They include Father Morrison, who runs the Crisis Care Centre in West Perth, North Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club member Mike Rees and Mr Farley.
She said: ``I see Mike almost every day; he swims every day.
``Father Brian is in West Perth now, so it's a bit harder for him to get down here.
``I see Brian Farley; he swims every day. I see him very often.''
When asked if a memorial service was going to be held for her husband, Mrs Crew said: ``No, I don't think so. No. Everyone is just going their own way.''
Mr Avery, who lives with his partner in East Fremantle, has formed ``a pretty close bond'' with Mrs Crew.
He said: ``I see Robin most days down at North Cottesloe since this happened eight years ago.
``We meet down the beach for coffee and we go out as a group socially. That beach crowd tend to socialise a bit.''
Mr Crew and Mr Avery were part of a five-strong swimming group called The Pod.
They were nearing the end of their 20-minute dawn swim when the unimaginable happened.
Fellow Pod members Jerry Ventouras, Ann Vincent and Di McCusker were several minutes ahead and watched in horror as the shark attacked.
Mr Avery has overcome his demons and swims about 2km at North Cottesloe at 6.30 every morning, though much closer to shore.
The lawyer said the events of eight years ago now seemed ``a bit distant'' but could never be forgotten.
He said: ``The date is always remembered. You basically remember it every day you are down there (North Cottesloe).
``It is not something that will go away from your memory, it's always there. You cope with it. You take things as they come. I will take this to the grave with me.
``I have probably -- to a certain extent -- put this behind me now. I'm back into swimming, it's just one of those risks you take when you go in the water and go for a swim.''
But the emotional memory of losing his friend to a predatory monster sticks like mud to a blanket.
Mr Avery said: ``These are the sorts of things that touch people and remain with them.''
He has largely escaped the trauma of flashbacks, bad dreams and waking in cold sweats that people often experience after such a shock.
``I think I have had one or two nightmares about it, but that was a long time ago,'' Mr Avery said.
Asked if he had any feelings of regret, he said: ``I don't think you can, faced with those circumstances.
``Ken just didn't have a chance where he was and he wouldn't have known much about it at all.''
Mr Avery regularly meets Pod members at the beach and speaks to Father Morrison occasionally.
He said: ``Mike Rees is in the surf club, so I see him most mornings.
``Brian used to go very often, but he hasn't been able to get down to the beach as regularly as he would normally.
``We (The Pod) are a bit out of kilter with the times at the moment and we don't tend to swim as a group now.
``I will swim with Jerry if he is down there, but it tends to be that everyone has got different times now, which makes it difficult.''
Father Morrison said counselling had been available for witnesses two years after the incident.
He said: ``I know of one person who is still scarred. It is something that just won't go away.
``I have been on 30 international disasters to all sorts of terrible war zones. I have seen death and destruction so badly, but at least I know I can cope with it.
``In this case, the important thing was to do your best to cope with it.''
Father Morrison paid tribute to Mr Crew.
``That sense of the presence of the man is still with me,'' he said. ``Every time you are on the beach you get that because of the goodness and decency of the man.''
Father Morrison will hold a memorial service for Mr Crew at North Cottesloe on Thursday, the eighth anniversary of his death.
What were you doing when Ken Crew was fatally attacked by a shark at North Cottesloe in November 2000? Would you go back in the water?
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0 ... 09,00.html
Article from: PerthNow
Glenn Cordingley
November 01, 2008 05:00pm
EIGHT years since West Australians were shocked by a fatal shark attack at North Cottesloe Beach, family and friends remember Ken Crew.
DIRK Avery still swims at Cottesloe daily.
Not far from the waves and foam and around the same time each morning, Robin Crew takes a walk along the famous beach.
Sometimes they stroll together.
They meet afterwards at the nearby cafe Barchetta, which overlooks the Indian Ocean and the scene of the WA's most savage shark attack.
In front of other bathers, early morning joggers and cafe diners -- and with his wife walking along the same beach -- Ken Crew was attacked by a massive white pointer in waist-deep water at 6.20am on November 6, 2000. His right leg was ripped from his body.
Minutes later, the 49-year-old father of three died on shore in the arms of Father Brian Morrison. He had bled to death.
The shark also turned on Mr Crew's swimming pal, Mr Avery, who scrambled on to a reef and kicked at it with his feet.
He needed 75 stitches and skin grafts for severe wounds.
Eight years on, Mrs Crew and Mr Avery meet almost daily at North Cottesloe.
Mrs Crew, of Mosman Park, said the years following her husband's death had been difficult for her and children Rebecca, 30, Andrew, 25, and Aimee, 22.
She said: ``My children are very fragile and I respect that.
``My eldest was very sick after he died. They are just coping the best they can, and it is quite difficult.''
Brian Farley, 52, was another swimmer that fateful, misty morning. But he became a hero when he flung himself into the blood-clouded water to drag Mr Crew to the beach.
The Bicton man was awarded the Star of Courage, the second-highest of Australia's bravery decorations, for his ``act of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril''.
Mrs Crew stays in regular contact with a number of friends who saw the shark attack.
They include Father Morrison, who runs the Crisis Care Centre in West Perth, North Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club member Mike Rees and Mr Farley.
She said: ``I see Mike almost every day; he swims every day.
``Father Brian is in West Perth now, so it's a bit harder for him to get down here.
``I see Brian Farley; he swims every day. I see him very often.''
When asked if a memorial service was going to be held for her husband, Mrs Crew said: ``No, I don't think so. No. Everyone is just going their own way.''
Mr Avery, who lives with his partner in East Fremantle, has formed ``a pretty close bond'' with Mrs Crew.
He said: ``I see Robin most days down at North Cottesloe since this happened eight years ago.
``We meet down the beach for coffee and we go out as a group socially. That beach crowd tend to socialise a bit.''
Mr Crew and Mr Avery were part of a five-strong swimming group called The Pod.
They were nearing the end of their 20-minute dawn swim when the unimaginable happened.
Fellow Pod members Jerry Ventouras, Ann Vincent and Di McCusker were several minutes ahead and watched in horror as the shark attacked.
Mr Avery has overcome his demons and swims about 2km at North Cottesloe at 6.30 every morning, though much closer to shore.
The lawyer said the events of eight years ago now seemed ``a bit distant'' but could never be forgotten.
He said: ``The date is always remembered. You basically remember it every day you are down there (North Cottesloe).
``It is not something that will go away from your memory, it's always there. You cope with it. You take things as they come. I will take this to the grave with me.
``I have probably -- to a certain extent -- put this behind me now. I'm back into swimming, it's just one of those risks you take when you go in the water and go for a swim.''
But the emotional memory of losing his friend to a predatory monster sticks like mud to a blanket.
Mr Avery said: ``These are the sorts of things that touch people and remain with them.''
He has largely escaped the trauma of flashbacks, bad dreams and waking in cold sweats that people often experience after such a shock.
``I think I have had one or two nightmares about it, but that was a long time ago,'' Mr Avery said.
Asked if he had any feelings of regret, he said: ``I don't think you can, faced with those circumstances.
``Ken just didn't have a chance where he was and he wouldn't have known much about it at all.''
Mr Avery regularly meets Pod members at the beach and speaks to Father Morrison occasionally.
He said: ``Mike Rees is in the surf club, so I see him most mornings.
``Brian used to go very often, but he hasn't been able to get down to the beach as regularly as he would normally.
``We (The Pod) are a bit out of kilter with the times at the moment and we don't tend to swim as a group now.
``I will swim with Jerry if he is down there, but it tends to be that everyone has got different times now, which makes it difficult.''
Father Morrison said counselling had been available for witnesses two years after the incident.
He said: ``I know of one person who is still scarred. It is something that just won't go away.
``I have been on 30 international disasters to all sorts of terrible war zones. I have seen death and destruction so badly, but at least I know I can cope with it.
``In this case, the important thing was to do your best to cope with it.''
Father Morrison paid tribute to Mr Crew.
``That sense of the presence of the man is still with me,'' he said. ``Every time you are on the beach you get that because of the goodness and decency of the man.''
Father Morrison will hold a memorial service for Mr Crew at North Cottesloe on Thursday, the eighth anniversary of his death.
What were you doing when Ken Crew was fatally attacked by a shark at North Cottesloe in November 2000? Would you go back in the water?
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0 ... 09,00.html