Shark Attacked, Second shark caught, killed

 
A SECOND great white shark has been hooked and killed off Esperance after a 23-year-old surfer was attacked and lost parts of both arms in a horrific attack.
The man is 23-year-old Bunbury man Sean Pollard, who arrived at Royal Perth Hospital in a stable condition late this afternoon.
Mr Pollard will reportedly undergo emergency surgery tonight after losing one arm below the elbow and his other hand. The Bunbury local was meant to play in his team’s grand final this weekend.
The attack occurred at unpatrolled Kelpids Beach in Wylie Bay, a popular surfing and fishing spot about 6km east of Esperance on WA’s south coast which is only accessible via 4WD.
The Department of Fisheries says a second large white shark, about 3m, has been caught on drum lines tonight in the same area a 3-4.5m shark was hooked this afternoon. Both sharks were killed and will be taken to Perth for research purposes.

According to ABC TV, the person who spoke to Mr Pollard immediately after the attack said he believed he had been mauled by two bronze whalers and described it as a “feeding frenzy”.
In a statement, the department said: “Even upon examination it may not be possible to confirm that either shark was involved in the incident this morning. It is common for sharks to disgorge stomach contents.”

As soon as he was helped to shore by someone who witnessed the attack, Mr Pollard received first aid from an off-duty paramedic, who was fortunately at the scene, Esperance Shire president Malcolm Heasman said.
He was rushed to Esperance Hospital for initial treatment and later flown to RPH.
There may well be an outcry from conservationists if bronze whalers are confirmed as Mr Pollard’s attackers, given the Fisheries response represents the first time a white pointer – a protected species – has been killed by WA officials.
Mr Pollard, who was reportedly trying to teach his girlfriend to surf, was bitten by a white pointer of up to 4.5 metres in length, authorities say.
Department of Fisheries shark response unit manager Lisa Clack this afternoon said the Bunbury man was surfing 150 metres from the surf break at the unpatrolled Wylie Bay, east of Esperance, when he was attacked by the 3-4.5m shark about 11am today.
He was surfing on his own but his girlfriend may have been on the beach, Ms Clack said.

The great white shark caught and killed by Fisheries officers off Esperance today. Picture: Nine News

After the State Government got special Commonwealth approval, two drum lines were deployed after the attack and a shark was caught within the first hour.
While it is not known for certain that this shark was the culprit, it was destroyed humanely.
The killed shark is on its way to Perth for Fisheries officers to conduct research.
Ms Clark said the department considered the most humane way to kill the shark.
While the Royal Flying Doctor Service said the man had lost both arms, Mr Heasman said that was incorrect.
“#WA Man has lost both arms after #shark attack at #Esperance Beach. #FlyingDoctor are evacuating patient to Perth for treatment,” the RFDS tweeted.

Shark attack victim Sean Pollard arrives at Royal Perth Hospital. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

But Mr Heasman said the man had lost the hand from one arm, and part of his other arm from the elbow down.
A police escort rushed blood to Jandakot Airport for transport to Esperance Hospital, where the man may have required a transfusion.
Mr Pollard’s family members were at Perth Airport to pick up his girlfriend who had flown in from Esperance. Relatives and Mr Pollard’s girlfriend then rushed to be by his side at RPH.
In a Facebook post, the South Bunbury Football Club wrote: “Today a young man was attacked by a shark in Esperance. Unfortunately the young man is one of our own in Sean Pollard. Our thoughts are with Polly and his family from everyone at South Bunbury Football Club.We are with you all the way mate.”
South Bunbury Football Club president Mark Docking said said Mr Pollard’s love of surfing meant it was hard to get him to focus on his football sometimes.
“It’s devastating for Sean, he's a young man, 23-years-old, as a club we’re right behind him and support him and his family,” he said.
Club director Jeff Hayres said the club was devastated.
“No one wants to see a 23-year-old in his prime be in this situation,” he told ABC radio.
Mr Pollard’s friends have posted comments on his Facebook page, saying their thoughts are with him.
“Thinking of you mate. Speedy recovery brother x,” Morgan Lane wrote.
Brendan Hough posted: “Mate thinking of you. We all are. Stick in there xx.”
Wylie Bay Beach and nearby Kelpids Beach are likely to remain closed for the next few days.

Sean Pollard’s girlfriend Claire is comforted as family arrives at RPH. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

It is accessible only by four-wheel drive and is a popular spot for surfing and fishing.
Ms Clark said there were campers in the area. Fisheries urged people to stay out of the water.
Ms Clark said there was a recent shark sighting in the area, but there had previously been no attacks in that particular location.
The initial emergency call to St John Ambulance, from the beach, said the young surfer had lost both arms in the attack.
Earlier today, the Department of Fisheries say it is working closely with police, the Shire of Esperance and Department of Parks and Wildlife to close the beaches and that Surf Life Saving Association has jet-skis in the water.
Mr Heasman said the man’s family had been notified of the attack and authorities were trying to retrieve his surfboard.

Esperance shark attack victim Sean Pollard arrives at Jandakot. Picture: Colin Murty

“There has been some increased (shark) activity out in Wylie Bay over several weeks.”
“I got a phone call from someone a fortnight ago … that there had been some increased shark activity.
“There has been something ongoing there for a while, we don’t know what it is.”
Mr Heasman said he believed the man’s girlfriend was with him at Esperance Hospital, but said it was unclear if she had been with him at the beach at the time of the attack.
“There apparently were people around because they assisted him into the car park … my understanding is his girlfriend is definitely at the hospital,” he said.
“I think the 000 call came in fairly quickly about 11am.”

The man is taken to the RFDS plane. Picture: Marni Topping

Mr Heasman said beaches in the area had been closed and could also stay closed tomorrow.
He confirmed the man’s injuries were severe.
“He’s lost the one arm apparently below the elbow and the other arm from the wrist,” he said.
“We don’t know if he’s lost his wrist or just had it severely damaged … he also has lacerations to his leg.
“It’s pretty severe.
“Our prayers and best wishes go out to him and his family.”

A 4-Wheel-Drive ambulance which was used to transport the injured surfer to Esperance Hospital. Picture: Mick Sonneman.

Premier Colin Barnett today said the Esperance incident was a “serious attack” and it was unclear at this stage what species of shark was responsible.
“A Fisheries vessel is in the water and an attempt is being made to catch the shark. The presence of this shark in the area during school holidays poses a significant threat to public safety,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I understand Wylie Bay is not a patrolled beach given the level of water use (it is mainly frequented by surfers), and therefore would not have been protected by drum lines under the Government’s previous program.
“That said, today’s attack is an unfortunate and tragic reminder of how serious the threat is.”
The shark attack comes just weeks after the WA Government abandoned its baiting drum line strategy, which was knocked back by the Environmental Protection Authority.
Instead the Premier said he hoped to deploy specialist shark hunters to take out rogue or threatening large sharks.

Wylie Bay Beach, east of Esperance where a young surfer was mauled by a shark. Picture: Surf Life Saving WA.

It is not known what sort of shark is responsible for today’s attack, but great whites are common off the WA south coast.
In January 2006, teenage body surfer Zak Golebiowski survived an attack by a great white at remote Wharton’s Beach, further east than Wylie Bay, but lost a leg.
Today’s attack happened at Kelpids Beach in Wylie Bay, a popular surf break and fishing beach which has 4-wheel-drive only access, about 15km east of Esperance on WA’s south-east coast.
St John Ambulance received the 000 call regarding the shark attack shortly after 11am.
Wylie Bay is a popular surfing spot, with beach breaks as well as a reef break 8km out from Wylie Head.
Online surfing guide Surfing Atlas lists sharks as a known hazard in this area.

Two Shire of Esperance staff stand guard at the entrance to Wylie Bay. Picture: Marni Topping.

Surf Life Saving WA tweeted on September 21 that Fisheries had advised it of a 4m shark sighted at West Beach Dalyup near Esperance.
The day before, September 20, two white sharks were seen at the Kelpids Beach, east of Wylie Bay.
One was 4m and the other one was slightly smaller.

A sign closing Wylie Bay after today’s attack. Picture: Marni Topping Source: Supplied

Trouble in paradise: Wylie Bay, near Esperance, where a young surfer has been mauled by a shark.

Today’s attack follows the attack last year by a great white on an Esperance abalone diver about 180km east of the town.
Last year, Greg Pickering underwent 10 hours of surgery after a horrifying attack.
Mr Pickering was fishing for abalone when he was attacked by a great white shark.
He was bitten on the head and chest and endured several hours of travelling by boat and car before he could receive medical treatment.
Remarkably, it was the second time he had survived a shark attack - 10 years earlier he was attacked by a 1.5m bronze whaler while spearfishing with a friend about 9km off Cervantes.