In the modern world, List of fatal shark attacks in South Africa has been a topic of constant debate and interest. Whether due to its impact on society, its relevance today or its influence on our daily lives, List of fatal shark attacks in South Africa has been the subject of numerous studies and research. From its origins to its evolution today, List of fatal shark attacks in South Africa has been a topic that has captured the attention of academics, experts, and people of all ages and backgrounds. In this article, we will explore the many aspects of List of fatal shark attacks in South Africa and its importance in today's society, as well as its relevance in the future.
This is a list of recorded fatal shark attacks in South African territorial waters, in reverse chronological order, including cases that were immediately, eventually or presumably fatal.
Name, age | Date | Location | Species | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kimon “Kiki” Bisogno, 39 | September 25, 2022 | Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape | Great white shark | Just before 8 a.m. Bisogno entered the water for an early morning swim with her husband and five-year old daughter. She was in waist-deep water 2 to 3 waves from the beach when a 13-ft white shark grabbed her. Witnesses heard her scream as the shark took her underwater. The National Sea Rescue Institute was alerted, launched a rescue vessel and found her body around 50 yards from where she was attacked. |
Bruce Wolov, 63 | June 28, 2022 | Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape | Great white shark | Bruce Wolov was swimming in the Bay when a white shark attacked him. A large great white shark was filmed swimming in the area shortly after the attack. |
Robert Frauenstein, 38 | April 13, 2021 | Chintsa, Eastern Cape | Great white shark | Frauenstein was body boarding alone. His body was never recovered, but his board was found with teeth marks believed to be from a 'huge' great white. |
Name, age | Date | Location | Species | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sivuyile Xelela, 34 | September 3, 2017 | Dyer Island, Western Cape | Great white shark | Xelela was swimming with a group of poachers to Dyer Island to poach abalone. He was swimming a few meters in front of the group when a shark grabbed him, pulled him underwater, and resurfaced with him in its jaws. The group swam away, and Xelela's body was later retrieved by a rescue boat. |
Leopold Mairhuber, 68 | April 12, 2017 | Protea Banks, KwaZulu-Natal | Unknown | Mairhuber was an experienced master scuba instructor, diving with a charter group. Once the group surfaced, they realized Mairhuber was missing. According to some reports only his legs and pieces of his wetsuit were recovered. A coroner was unable to determine whether or not he had died first before the attack. |
Friedrich Burgstaller, 66 | March 22, 2014 | Port St. John's, Eastern Cape | Bull shark | Burgstaller was standing in waist-deep water at Second Beach, when the shark attacked, biting his leg. He started to wade to shore, but fell. Burgstaller tried to punch the shark, but his arm went straight into the sharks mouth, and the shark severed it. A current then swept him out from shore. He tried to swim back with only one arm, but succumbed to his injuries. They saw his body floating to shore, and retrieved it. His arm was severed, and a large part of his body below the waist was gone. An expert suggested a bull shark, about 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length. |
Burgert van der Westhuizen, 74 | October 11, 2013 | Jeffery's Bay, Eastern Cape Province | Great white shark | This attack took place at Lower point, while Van der Westhuizen was swimming. Witnesses saw a commotion in the water and then a shark attacking a body. A witness paddled out on his kayak to see a shark eating a body. Then, the NSRI retrieved the body. It is believed the shark responsible was a great white shark, about 4 meters in length. |
Liya Sibili, 20 | December 25, 2012 | Port St. John's, Eastern Cape Province | Tiger shark | This attack took place at Second Beach. Lifeguards saw a shark fin and tried to get everyone out of the water, but Sibili was farther out. Witnesses saw him get bitten by a shark, and the water turned red with blood. Lifeguards did not immediately enter the water because they were scared of the shark. Sibili's body was never recovered, only his swimming trunks were found. |
David Lilienfeld, 20 | April 19, 2012 | False Bay, Western Cape Province | Great white shark | This incident took place at Dappat Se Gat. Lilienfeld was lying on his body board when a shark fin appeared. Lilienfeld tried to fight off the shark, but it bit his leg. He was pulled ashore, but by the time paramedics reached him, he was dead. He died from blood loss after his leg was severed at the hip. It is believed the shark responsible was a white shark, about 15 feet in length. |
Lungisani Msungubana, 25 | January 15, 2012 | Port St. John's, Eastern Cape Province | Bull shark | This attack took place at Second Beach. Msungubana was in waist-deep water with his friends when the shark attacked him. He tried to fight back while others rushed from the water. Lifeguards came and put him on a surfboard to use as a stretcher, but he died on his way to the hospital. He had lacerations to his right torso, shoulder, arm, and leg. |
Tim van Heerden, 49 | August 23, 2011 | Keurbooms River Mouth, Western Cape Province | Great white shark | This attack took place at Lookout Beach. Van Heerden was surfing and spotted a shark and yelled to other people surfing. The shark pulled him off his board. When trying to get back on his surfboard, the shark pulled him under again. A surfer came to his aid, and pulled him onto shore. He was able to get to the hospital alive, but died later. He died after having two bites- one on his thigh, and one on the groin. His femoral artery was severed. The involved white shark was about 8 feet in length. |
Warren Smart, 28 | May 21, 2011 | Leven Point, KwaZulu-Natal | Bull shark | Warren Smart was spear fishing at a depth of about 12 meters. He was trying to remove a fish from a hook when a shark bit his thigh. People on his support boat pulled him on and started for shore. When they did reach shore, paramedics were there and tried to stop the blood from coming out, but he died. He had severe lacerations along his thigh. |
Zama Ndamase, 16 | January 15, 2011 | Port St. John's, Eastern Cape Province | Bull shark | This attack took place at Second Beach. Ndamase was surfing with a surf club when a shark bit him. He tried to reach shore, but bled to death before he made it out of the water. He died after the shark bit his left thigh and severed his femoral artery. |
Khanyisile Momoza, 29 | September 21, 2010 | Dyer Island, Western Cape Province | Great white shark | Momoza was swimming back to the mainland in a group after collecting abalone. A shark grabbed him and pulled him under the surface. Too scared for their lives, the rest of the group swam to shore and told authorities what had happened. |
Lloyd Skinner, 37 | January 12, 2010 | Fish Hoek, Western Cape Province | Great white shark | Skinner was standing in chest-deep water in False bay when a white shark bit him. Skinner signaled for help. The shark then pulled him under the water. When he surfaced the shark bit him again. Helicopters and boats were then sent out to find him, but couldn't. |