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| Shark attack kills award-winning film-maker in New Zealand | Shark attack kills award-winning film-maker in New Zealand |
| (4 months later) | |
| Beaches in New Zealand have been closed after a swimmer was dragged out to sea and killed by a shark off one of the most popular beaches near the city of Auckland. Eyewitnesses described the sea as being covered in blood, and several sharks may have joined in the attack. | Beaches in New Zealand have been closed after a swimmer was dragged out to sea and killed by a shark off one of the most popular beaches near the city of Auckland. Eyewitnesses described the sea as being covered in blood, and several sharks may have joined in the attack. |
| It is believed to be the first fatal shark attack in the country since 1976 and only the 14th ever recorded. A shark was implicated in the death of a man in 2009, but he is believed to have drowned before the shark attacked. | It is believed to be the first fatal shark attack in the country since 1976 and only the 14th ever recorded. A shark was implicated in the death of a man in 2009, but he is believed to have drowned before the shark attacked. |
| The victim was identified as an award-winning film commercials maker, Adam Strange, 46, whose family described him as a "glorious and great father, husband and friend''. | The victim was identified as an award-winning film commercials maker, Adam Strange, 46, whose family described him as a "glorious and great father, husband and friend''. |
| The lifeguards who tried to rescue Strange were said to have known him and regarded him as a strong and capable swimmer, and were said to be traumatised by the incident. | The lifeguards who tried to rescue Strange were said to have known him and regarded him as a strong and capable swimmer, and were said to be traumatised by the incident. |
| Strange's work has been shortlisted in the past for advertising awards at Cannes and at the London International Advertising Awards, and his first feature, Aphrodite's Farm, took a short film award at the Berlin film festival. | Strange's work has been shortlisted in the past for advertising awards at Cannes and at the London International Advertising Awards, and his first feature, Aphrodite's Farm, took a short film award at the Berlin film festival. |
| His website lists his passion for outdoor sports, including surfing. | His website lists his passion for outdoor sports, including surfing. |
| Strange, who lived near the beach, was married and had a young daughter. A statement from his wife Meg and family said: "We are in deep shock and are still trying to contact overseas family members". | Strange, who lived near the beach, was married and had a young daughter. A statement from his wife Meg and family said: "We are in deep shock and are still trying to contact overseas family members". |
| Gruesome eyewitness accounts by fishermen on the beach – including one who was close enough to shout to Strange to swim towards the rocks in the hope of escaping his attacker – spoke of "blood everywhere on the water". They suggest the shark was a great white, up to four metres long. | Gruesome eyewitness accounts by fishermen on the beach – including one who was close enough to shout to Strange to swim towards the rocks in the hope of escaping his attacker – spoke of "blood everywhere on the water". They suggest the shark was a great white, up to four metres long. |
| Coastguards and police, who were on the scene promptly, chased it by boat, and fired several shots, but the shark apparently escaped uninjured. | Coastguards and police, who were on the scene promptly, chased it by boat, and fired several shots, but the shark apparently escaped uninjured. |
| Other eyewitness accounts suggest more than one shark was involved, though only one large shark was filmed swimming in the area minutes after the attack. | Other eyewitness accounts suggest more than one shark was involved, though only one large shark was filmed swimming in the area minutes after the attack. |
| There were about 200 people on the sand or in the water as Strange was swimming 200 metres off the beautiful Muriwai beach, one of the most popular in the area. | There were about 200 people on the sand or in the water as Strange was swimming 200 metres off the beautiful Muriwai beach, one of the most popular in the area. |
| Pio Mosie, who was fishing off the beach, told New Zealand's One News: "He yelled out 'a shark!' and then we looked up, there was blood everywhere and the shark was still attacking. Then the shark stopped attacking, he put his head up, and we yelled out at him to swim over to the rock, and he raised his hand up … and next minute he went down, the shark pulled him down. He came up again with his head under the water, and then we knew he was dead. Shocking. First time I have seen such a thing in real life." | Pio Mosie, who was fishing off the beach, told New Zealand's One News: "He yelled out 'a shark!' and then we looked up, there was blood everywhere and the shark was still attacking. Then the shark stopped attacking, he put his head up, and we yelled out at him to swim over to the rock, and he raised his hand up … and next minute he went down, the shark pulled him down. He came up again with his head under the water, and then we knew he was dead. Shocking. First time I have seen such a thing in real life." |
| "All I was thinking was I wanted to jump in the water and help but I didn't want to get attacked by a shark too," he told another interviewer. | "All I was thinking was I wanted to jump in the water and help but I didn't want to get attacked by a shark too," he told another interviewer. |
| The police were called by one of the witnesses at 1.24pm local time, backed up by an Eagle helicopter, which hovered above the shark to mark the spot for them. They managed to retrieve the body, but Strange was already dead. Although they fired a number of shots at the shark, they were not sure whether they managed to hit it; it "rolled away" and disappeared, Inspector Shawn Rutene said. | The police were called by one of the witnesses at 1.24pm local time, backed up by an Eagle helicopter, which hovered above the shark to mark the spot for them. They managed to retrieve the body, but Strange was already dead. Although they fired a number of shots at the shark, they were not sure whether they managed to hit it; it "rolled away" and disappeared, Inspector Shawn Rutene said. |
| An expert on sharks from New Zealand's Department of Conservation, Clinton Duffy, said such attacks were far rarer in New Zealand than in Australia, possibly because of the colder water. Sharks simply ignored people "99% of the time," he said. | An expert on sharks from New Zealand's Department of Conservation, Clinton Duffy, said such attacks were far rarer in New Zealand than in Australia, possibly because of the colder water. Sharks simply ignored people "99% of the time," he said. |
| Tim Jago, a volunteer lifeguard on the beach, said his young colleagues were traumatised by the incident. Sharks – especially one so large – were rare at Muriwai beach. "This is something completely shocking," he said. | Tim Jago, a volunteer lifeguard on the beach, said his young colleagues were traumatised by the incident. Sharks – especially one so large – were rare at Muriwai beach. "This is something completely shocking," he said. |
| The beach, and all the other beaches in the area, will remain closed for at least two days. "They've got every 'beach closed' sign they can get their hands on," Jago said. | The beach, and all the other beaches in the area, will remain closed for at least two days. "They've got every 'beach closed' sign they can get their hands on," Jago said. |
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