Spate of Shark Attacks in Australia Rattles Nerves
Come on in, the water's fine: Shark attacks rattle Australia but experts say it's safe to swim
A recent string of shark attacks across Australia has rattled swimmers' nerves, but experts say fear not — it's (relatively) safe to go in the water.
"This is a mild hysteria," said Rachel Robbins, chief scientist at Australia's Rodney Fox Shark Research Foundation, named for and founded by the famed shark expert. "I think it's just a freak coincidence that we've happened to have three shark attacks" in two days.
Despite the assurances, a debate is raging over whether there are indeed more sharks in Australia's waters — or whether simply more swimmers are aware of the creatures' presence.
The trouble began on Dec. 27, when 51-year-old Brian Guest vanished while snorkeling with his son off a beach in Western Australia. A piece of his wet suit was later found, and officials said he was almost certainly eaten by a shark.
On Sunday, a 13-year-old surfer in the island state of Tasmania was dragged under water by a 16-foot (5-meter) great white shark, and a 31-year-old surfer was bitten while surfing at a remote beach in New South Wales state. Both survived.
On Monday, Steven Fogarty was snorkeling in southern New South Wales when a shark latched onto his leg. He survived after letting fly a flurry of punches that caused the shark to let go.
Several beaches have been closed after sharks were spotted close to shore, while officials have warned people to swim in groups, avoid swimming at dawn and dusk when sharks feed, and to stick to patrolled beaches.
Despite Australia's reputation as a haven for the man-eaters, only one fatal shark attack occurs on average each year, according to the Australian Shark Attack File database.
Database curator John West said there was no evidence that the number of sharks along Australia's coastline has grown in recent years and that the latest flurry of sightings probably came about because swimmers — frightened by the cluster of attacks — were on the lookout.
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