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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMan dies after shark attack off Cape Cod
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/09/15/man-dies-after-shark-attack-off-cape-cod/WELLFLEET, Mass. A man was bitten by a shark Saturday in the water off a Cape Cod beach and died later at a hospital, becoming the states first shark attack fatality in more than 80 years.
The 26-year-old man from Revere succumbed to his injuries following the attack off Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet at around noon, Wellfleet Police Lt. Michael Hurley said.
Joe Booth, a local fisherman and surfer, said he was on shore when he saw the man and his friend boogie boarding when the attack happened.
He said he saw the man aggressively kick something behind him and a flicker of a tail from the water. He realized what was happening when the friend came ashore dragging his injured friend.
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smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)So sad. He was so young. It sounds like the shark bit right through the femoral artery and he didn't have much of a chance.
I think in the future I will stick to lakes and pools.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)They're able to travel inland into fresh water, and they actually like eating humans.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Thanks for the warning!
Actually, most of the lakes I would swim in would be in the Adirondacks, so not too much chance of encountering any sharks there, but I really don't like swimming with any kind of fish/water creatures, so I will probably just stick to pools from now on anyway.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)jcgoldie
(11,657 posts)Your odds of being involved in a shark attack is 1 in 11.5 million even if you only consider people who go to the beach and your odds of being killed by said shark is 1 in 264 million... way better chance of your plane crashing on the way there and flying is by far the safest mode of travel.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)But I do not play golf in a thunderstorm nor do I swim or wade fish here in Florida when the conditions and daylight favor bull sharks feeding.
The re-colonization of areas by seals, which we almost drove to extinction may cause a need to rethink how those beaches are used. Because the sharks are back because the seals are back.
Unlike Bull Sharks, White Sharks dont feed on humans and almost all attacks are mistakes by the shark. Once the realize they have the wrong prey they generally back off. Unfortunately as large as there are the first bite is often fatal.
Would not be surprised to start seeing idiots start lobbying for the removal of the seals lest their property values go down.
Just a horrible tragedy.
DFW
(54,502 posts)My family and I have been making the long trek to the Wellfleet-Truro area of Cape Cod every year since 1984, and that's 4000 miles from us. My daughters go through withdrawal symptoms those rare years when the one or the other can't make it.
Since one of the reasons we go there is to do exactly the kind of surfing this man was doing, this is REALLY scary. Seeing "Beach closed due to shark sightings" is only surpassed in degree of being depressing by "Beach closed due to fatal shark attack."
I can handle leaving my heart in San Francisco, but not leaving my leg on Long Nook.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)like a sweet young man. Apparently he recently moved here from Brazil and was about to get married. Such a tragedy.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)But at least it was quick.