“At the clinic medical staff declared the man dead after all efforts to
save him had been exhausted,” he added.
Witnesses told how they watched in horror as the shark approached Mr
Msungubana who, perhaps mindful of the risk, was only waist-deep in the
water.
Eyewitness Cebo Mafuna told that he was bodysurfing close to the shore when he
saw the creature’s fin.
“It was about a foot high but it didn’t look like a big shark,” he
said.
“When it came up out of the water, I saw it open its mouth and saw its
teeth. It turned the guy on his side and went for him. He tried to fight it
off with his arm but it kept attacking.”
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said “brave” Mr Msungubana
fought with the shark for a “good five minutes”.
“His injuries were severe, but while he was fighting for his life, he was
shouting for others to get out of the water,” he added.
Nonceba Madikizela, a spokesman for Port St Johns municipality, said it had
decided to close the beach to swimmers until the Natal Sharks Board
completes its investigation – said to be in August.
“We were constantly putting warning signs on the beach about the high
number of shark attacks but people were vandalising them and removing them,”
she said.
“Lifeguards have now been instructed not to allow anyone in to the water
and police will be monitoring the beach to ensure people comply.
“We understand that we will lose some revenue from the tourists that come
down but we believe that the safety of people is more important than any
revenue.”
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