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North Carolina shark attacks: town keeps beaches open without lifeguards North Carolina shark attacks: town keeps beaches open without lifeguards
(about 3 hours later)
Officials in a North Carolina town said they will keep local beaches open, won’t put lifeguards on beaches and will “eliminate” a shark if it is believed to be a threat, after two teenage swimmers lost limbs in separate shark attacks off the coast of the same town.Officials in a North Carolina town said they will keep local beaches open, won’t put lifeguards on beaches and will “eliminate” a shark if it is believed to be a threat, after two teenage swimmers lost limbs in separate shark attacks off the coast of the same town.
Related: US shark attacks: two teenagers lose limbs on same North Carolina beachRelated: US shark attacks: two teenagers lose limbs on same North Carolina beach
A 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy both lost arms after being attacked at on Sunday afternoon off the coast of Oak Island.A 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy both lost arms after being attacked at on Sunday afternoon off the coast of Oak Island.
Helicopters and boats will patrol waters off the coast of Oak Island on Monday, but a well-respected shark expert said actions announced by the town on Monday aren’t the most effective ways to protect swimmers.Helicopters and boats will patrol waters off the coast of Oak Island on Monday, but a well-respected shark expert said actions announced by the town on Monday aren’t the most effective ways to protect swimmers.
George Burgess, a shark expert at the University of Florida’s ichthyology department, said officials should “consider closing the beach, getting extra lifeguards in the area, and constituting their search patterns or whatever so you can radio down to safety personnel down below”, if a shark is sighted.George Burgess, a shark expert at the University of Florida’s ichthyology department, said officials should “consider closing the beach, getting extra lifeguards in the area, and constituting their search patterns or whatever so you can radio down to safety personnel down below”, if a shark is sighted.
“Those are the kinds of things that are required at this point, as well as an educational campaign to users of those beaches that in fact it is a wilderness experience when we enter the ocean.”“Those are the kinds of things that are required at this point, as well as an educational campaign to users of those beaches that in fact it is a wilderness experience when we enter the ocean.”
Currently, Oak Island has no lifeguards, and town manager Tim Holloman said Monday the town has no plan to put lifeguards on the beaches.Currently, Oak Island has no lifeguards, and town manager Tim Holloman said Monday the town has no plan to put lifeguards on the beaches.
“We don’t have any changes in policy for lifeguards,” said Holloman. Currently, the town of about 7,000 permanent residents does not have lifeguards. “I don’t believe that in these particular incidents it would have made a difference.”“We don’t have any changes in policy for lifeguards,” said Holloman. Currently, the town of about 7,000 permanent residents does not have lifeguards. “I don’t believe that in these particular incidents it would have made a difference.”
Burgess said the proximity of the attacks indicates the same shark could be responsible, though whether that can be definitively determined is unclear. The Brunswick County sheriff said Monday that a shark estimated to be about 7ft long was spotted off the coast following the attacks, but it’s unclear whether it was the same predator.Burgess said the proximity of the attacks indicates the same shark could be responsible, though whether that can be definitively determined is unclear. The Brunswick County sheriff said Monday that a shark estimated to be about 7ft long was spotted off the coast following the attacks, but it’s unclear whether it was the same predator.
Burgess said a bull or tiger shark is likely the culprit, since the animals are known to be aggressive and hunt for large food items.Burgess said a bull or tiger shark is likely the culprit, since the animals are known to be aggressive and hunt for large food items.
Holloman said that if a shark is spotted during the helicopter and boat patrols on Monday: “We’ll be notified and we’ll take appropriate action at that time.”Holloman said that if a shark is spotted during the helicopter and boat patrols on Monday: “We’ll be notified and we’ll take appropriate action at that time.”
Asked what that meant, Holloman said: “We’ll decide whether the animal is feasible to eliminate at that time or not.”Asked what that meant, Holloman said: “We’ll decide whether the animal is feasible to eliminate at that time or not.”
Burgess said it would be “foolish” for town officials to believe the same shark will ever be found.Burgess said it would be “foolish” for town officials to believe the same shark will ever be found.
“That’s just plain stupid,” said Burgess. “The chances of them identifying the shark are slim to none. The reality is that sharks are highly mobile, and the shark that bit those guys yesterday could be 40 miles away.”“That’s just plain stupid,” said Burgess. “The chances of them identifying the shark are slim to none. The reality is that sharks are highly mobile, and the shark that bit those guys yesterday could be 40 miles away.”
Victims of Sunday’s attacks were airlifted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington following the attacks, town officials said Monday.Victims of Sunday’s attacks were airlifted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington following the attacks, town officials said Monday.
Both are now in “fair” condition, but have lost limbs. The 12-year-old girl (who was first identified by authorities as 13) had an arm amputated below the elbow, and sustained serious injuries to her left leg. The 16-year-old boy had his arm amputated below the shoulder.Both are now in “fair” condition, but have lost limbs. The 12-year-old girl (who was first identified by authorities as 13) had an arm amputated below the elbow, and sustained serious injuries to her left leg. The 16-year-old boy had his arm amputated below the shoulder.
One beachgoer described the scene as “nightmarish”, as people swarmed around the victims trying to help, applying makeshift tourniquets to stem the bleeding.One beachgoer described the scene as “nightmarish”, as people swarmed around the victims trying to help, applying makeshift tourniquets to stem the bleeding.
“I saw someone carry this girl [out of the water] and people were swarming around and trying to help,” Steve Bouser, who had just begun his weeklong beach vacation, told the Associated Press. “It was quite terrible.”“I saw someone carry this girl [out of the water] and people were swarming around and trying to help,” Steve Bouser, who had just begun his weeklong beach vacation, told the Associated Press. “It was quite terrible.”
Burgess said there were three shark attack fatalities worldwide last year, and that most shark attacks are not serious, and equated them to dog bites. People meanwhile, killed between 35 and 70 million sharks last year, Burgess said. Burgess said there were three shark attack fatalities worldwide last year, and that most shark attacks are not serious, and equated them to dog bites. Meanwhile, people killed between 35 and 70 million sharks last year, Burgess said.
Holloman suggested several safety precautions for swimmers, including not going into the water after heavy rains, avoiding fish and dolphins, and steering clear of the drops between sand bars and swimming near fishermen.Holloman suggested several safety precautions for swimmers, including not going into the water after heavy rains, avoiding fish and dolphins, and steering clear of the drops between sand bars and swimming near fishermen.
Holloman said he couldn’t speculate about whether the incidents would impact the area’s tourism. Officials said they would go swimming when asked.Holloman said he couldn’t speculate about whether the incidents would impact the area’s tourism. Officials said they would go swimming when asked.