Boy killed by shark in Australia

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

A boy in Australia has died after being bit on the leg by a shark. The boy, who was sixteen years old was with a friend at the time of the attack. The friend claimed that he believed the victim was joking when he was being attacked by a shark. "I thought he was only joking, so I went over to him and as I flipped him over I saw his leg," he said.

The attack, which occurred off northern New South Wales, Australia, was the first fatality from a shark attack in the area for over two years. There have, however been many more attacks which have not resulted in deaths.

It is unusual for sharks to attack humans. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), attacks on humans are normally a result of mistakes by the shark. The NOAA also says that sharks sometimes mistake humans for its natural prey, such as fish or a marine mammal or sea turtle, and that sharks most often will release the person after the first bite. It has also been claimed that the majority of shark bites are "hit-and-run" attacks by smaller species, such as blacktip and spinner sharks.

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Sources

Drew Cratchley, AAP. "First fatal shark attack in two years" — News Limited, April 8, 2008
"Teen killed in shark attack off Australian coast" — CNN, April 8, 2008
"Frequently Asked Questions About Sharks" — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, accessed on April 8, 2008

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