An Australian surfer is presumed dead after he was dragged underwater by a shark in an area known to be frequented by great white sharks earlier this week, authorities said.
Tod Gendle, 55, was paddling in the water with a group of surfers near Granites Beach, near Streaky Bay, when a shark knocked him off his surfboard about 10:20 a.m. local time on Tuesday, they said. witnesses to ABC.
“The guy just caught a wave and started paddling back. The shark knocked him off his board and then turned around and grabbed him,” spectator Jack Martin recalled of the horrible moment.
Then the shark “hit him and sunk him,” Martin said.
Local Jeff Schmucker jumped on his water ski to immediately help search for Gendle, 7News reported.
“I immediately grabbed the surfboard that was floating in the lineup,” he told ABC of the search.
Tod Gendle, 55, was swept away by a shark on Tuesday.7NEWS Adelaide
He went to the location where witnesses said the attack occurred and turned off his jet ski, Schmucker said.
“In one minute, a great white shark of approximately 14 feet [approached],” he said.
Schmucker followed the shark in circles for several laps, but was unable to find any trace of the missing surfer.
“At one point I could have reached out and touched the shark’s dorsal fin as it came out of the water,” he recalled.
The twisted creature was “the length of a sedan car” and “weighed between [2200 to 3000 pounds]Schmucker added, although he admitted that he was not sure if it was the same shark from the attack on Gendle.
There were several spectators rowing alongside Gendle when the attack occurred.7NEWS Adelaide
“I’ve seen five white sharks in the water at once on one particular occasion, so you can’t rule out the fact that there could be more than one shark there,” he said.
Gendle, whose body has not yet been found, was officially identified by his family on Thursday.
“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the police and volunteers for their dedicated efforts over the past few days,” the statement from the grieving loved ones read, according to ABC.
“We extend our thanks to his friends and the local Streaky Bay community who had the opportunity to meet Tod.
Gendle’s body has not yet been found.7NEWS Adelaide
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were with Tod that day.”
Gendle frequently traveled to Australia as “a very competent surfer,” superintendent Paul Behr told ABC.
“Depending on the wind, waves and currents we will continue searching [for Gendle’s body] for short periods for at least the next two days,” Behr continued.
However, searching for the shark involved in the attack would be “futile” and authorities will not attempt to locate it, Behr added.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn