Saint Jade
13-02-2006, 11:03
Well, I knew this day would come. Nature's taking back what's hers. And in fine form!
They were so lucky
13Feb06
SWIMMERS and boogieboarders yesterday defied the dangers to frolic in the surf as hundreds of sharks menaced a school of bait fish less than 100m offshore.
The shark alarms sounded at Southport and Narrowneck beaches at first light yesterday as schools of pilchards, tuna and tailor hugged the coastline.
Further south, North Burleigh beach was closed after several sharks were spotted stalking a smaller school of bait fish.
Lifesavers refused to open most beaches, but some swimmers took the risk and swam close to the water's edge.
"It's still dangerous," said one surf lifesaver. "We've ordered them out of the water for a reason, because there is a real danger.
"After a while, they just think it's safe, I guess."
Lifesavers in boats and on jet-skis rode through the Southport school of sharks in a bid to herd them away from the shore.
The lifesavers reopened the beach at Main Beach at 11am only to close it again 20 minutes later when yet another shark was sighted.
As the bait fish moved slowly south, the sharks, some as big as 2.5m moved even closer to the beach.
Adam Hill, who moved to the Gold Coast from Sydney only three weeks ago, spent about half an hour bodysurfing just south of Narrowneck and was stunned when he emerged from the water and was told about the danger.
"I didn't know they were out there at all," he said.
"Why didn't anyone tell me? I saw the bait fish but didn't see anything bigger so I thought it would be OK."
However, Mr Hill said that even if he had known about the sharks, it was so humid that he would still have gone for a swim, but would have stayed closer to the shore.
"You'd think they'd put some more signs up, though," he said.
"Although it's probably like the old Jaws movie where if you put the signs up all the tourists will go home."
While the area where Mr Hill was swimming was unsigned, 'Beach closed' signs were erected in the main tourist areas and lifesavers kept a close watch on those brave or silly enough to venture into the water.
The shark closures came a month after Brisbane woman Sarah Whiley, 21, was fatally mauled by bull sharks at North Stradbroke's Amity Point.
She was swimming just metres from the shore in an area called Rainbow Channel in the late afternoon when the sharks pulled off her arms and savagely mauled her body and legs. A helicopter rushed the stricken Ms Whiley to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she died.
Yesterday's overcast and murky conditions were eerily similar to those on the day Sarah was attacked.
Gold Coast Bulletin fishing expert Paul Burt warned swimmers to keep out of the way.
"The sharks are virtually in a feeding frenzy. You don't even want to put a foot in the water in situations like this," said Mr Burt. "When sharks are feeding, this is when they are most aggressive. They aren't after humans, but if you get in their way anything can happen."
Mr Burt said it was not unusual to see schools of bait fish this close to shore.
"It's perfectly normal at this time of year. The warmer water, tide and the southerly winds will bring them in even closer. You see it all the time and with that much bait fish, you'll get the sharks.
"And, depending on the tides and the conditions, you can get the big sharks the tigers and the whalers."
Yesterday, the fish were trailed by grey nurse, reef and bull sharks.
"All sharks can be aggressive. It's exactly like when Sarah Whiley was killed," he said.
"She was swimming in the bait fish. That's what can happen.
"Keep out of danger and stay out of the water. Don't take the risk."
On Saturday, Main Beach and Surfers Paradise beach were closed as a kilometre-long school of bait fish lured sharks close to shore.
Gold Coast Surf Life Saving duty officer Sue Neil said the hammerhead and grey nurse sharks were up to 2.5 metres long.
"They are big enough to cause quite a lot of damage to any swimmers who get in their way," Ms Neil said.
She said it was uncommon to see large numbers of sharks at this time of the year near the Gold Coast.
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For those unenlightened (non-Australians) the Gold Coast is probably the most overdeveloped, under-cared for piece of beach in the country (well, I think Bondi might also give it a run). I hope the sharks stay around. I hope a few of the stupid people swimming get eaten too.
They were so lucky
13Feb06
SWIMMERS and boogieboarders yesterday defied the dangers to frolic in the surf as hundreds of sharks menaced a school of bait fish less than 100m offshore.
The shark alarms sounded at Southport and Narrowneck beaches at first light yesterday as schools of pilchards, tuna and tailor hugged the coastline.
Further south, North Burleigh beach was closed after several sharks were spotted stalking a smaller school of bait fish.
Lifesavers refused to open most beaches, but some swimmers took the risk and swam close to the water's edge.
"It's still dangerous," said one surf lifesaver. "We've ordered them out of the water for a reason, because there is a real danger.
"After a while, they just think it's safe, I guess."
Lifesavers in boats and on jet-skis rode through the Southport school of sharks in a bid to herd them away from the shore.
The lifesavers reopened the beach at Main Beach at 11am only to close it again 20 minutes later when yet another shark was sighted.
As the bait fish moved slowly south, the sharks, some as big as 2.5m moved even closer to the beach.
Adam Hill, who moved to the Gold Coast from Sydney only three weeks ago, spent about half an hour bodysurfing just south of Narrowneck and was stunned when he emerged from the water and was told about the danger.
"I didn't know they were out there at all," he said.
"Why didn't anyone tell me? I saw the bait fish but didn't see anything bigger so I thought it would be OK."
However, Mr Hill said that even if he had known about the sharks, it was so humid that he would still have gone for a swim, but would have stayed closer to the shore.
"You'd think they'd put some more signs up, though," he said.
"Although it's probably like the old Jaws movie where if you put the signs up all the tourists will go home."
While the area where Mr Hill was swimming was unsigned, 'Beach closed' signs were erected in the main tourist areas and lifesavers kept a close watch on those brave or silly enough to venture into the water.
The shark closures came a month after Brisbane woman Sarah Whiley, 21, was fatally mauled by bull sharks at North Stradbroke's Amity Point.
She was swimming just metres from the shore in an area called Rainbow Channel in the late afternoon when the sharks pulled off her arms and savagely mauled her body and legs. A helicopter rushed the stricken Ms Whiley to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she died.
Yesterday's overcast and murky conditions were eerily similar to those on the day Sarah was attacked.
Gold Coast Bulletin fishing expert Paul Burt warned swimmers to keep out of the way.
"The sharks are virtually in a feeding frenzy. You don't even want to put a foot in the water in situations like this," said Mr Burt. "When sharks are feeding, this is when they are most aggressive. They aren't after humans, but if you get in their way anything can happen."
Mr Burt said it was not unusual to see schools of bait fish this close to shore.
"It's perfectly normal at this time of year. The warmer water, tide and the southerly winds will bring them in even closer. You see it all the time and with that much bait fish, you'll get the sharks.
"And, depending on the tides and the conditions, you can get the big sharks the tigers and the whalers."
Yesterday, the fish were trailed by grey nurse, reef and bull sharks.
"All sharks can be aggressive. It's exactly like when Sarah Whiley was killed," he said.
"She was swimming in the bait fish. That's what can happen.
"Keep out of danger and stay out of the water. Don't take the risk."
On Saturday, Main Beach and Surfers Paradise beach were closed as a kilometre-long school of bait fish lured sharks close to shore.
Gold Coast Surf Life Saving duty officer Sue Neil said the hammerhead and grey nurse sharks were up to 2.5 metres long.
"They are big enough to cause quite a lot of damage to any swimmers who get in their way," Ms Neil said.
She said it was uncommon to see large numbers of sharks at this time of the year near the Gold Coast.
_______________________________________________________________
For those unenlightened (non-Australians) the Gold Coast is probably the most overdeveloped, under-cared for piece of beach in the country (well, I think Bondi might also give it a run). I hope the sharks stay around. I hope a few of the stupid people swimming get eaten too.