Coming to the beach for surfing and swimming is fun until one falls prey to the dangers of the turquoise water. From brutal shark attacks to whetted reefs, a day at the ocean can go from tranquil to terrifying within minutes. On the same token, recently, an 11-year-old young snorkeler from Western Australia fell prey to the predatory shark clutches and almost lost his life in the process.
On 29th April, an 11-year-old boy was snorkeling off Kurrajong Campground at Cape Range National Park in the Shire of Exmouth, when he was attacked by a shark lurking nearby. What came next is a plea for help and an unprecedented sight of the waters.
Shark attack in Western Australia calls for some serious measures
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Per the report by Mirror, the boy was just meters away from the shore when he became the victim of the ocean’s predator. The shark’s jaws lacerated the snorkeler severely until the emergency services arrived at his rescue. The 11-year-old was then taken to the safety of the banks by the lifeguards and was treated by the paramedics present on the beach.
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The kid was then transferred to the Exmouth Hospital for further treatment. Fortunately, the medical team deemed his injuries not to be life-threatening and the little surfing enthusiast was then transported to the Perth Children’s Hospital. Following this, a shark alert has been declared at Kurrajong Campground in Western Australia. More so, the beach authorities issued safety warnings for swimmers and beachgoers to take extra care, even near the shore’s edge.
Nonetheless, it was the second incident reported within the span of just one week. Last week, professional surfer and paddler, Max Marsden was bitten by a bronze whaler shark off the coast of Lucy’s Beach, situated north of Perth and in proximity to Kurrajong. However, the surfer fought back with all his might and made it safely to the shore. Yet, he was gruesomely injured in the process. Marsden’s friend stated, “He’s got a few bits of teeth still in his arm…from the sounds of things, it’s ripped all the muscle of his bone”.
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Shark attacks have become more common in the area around Kurrajong. Therefore, in the wake of such incidents becoming more often, the authorities have cautioned residents to avoid the water because of the presence of dangerous predators.