Fed: Missing swimmer not likely a shark victim: rescue authority
By Anthony Stavrinos and Alex Murdoch
SYDNEY, Dec 29 AAP - It was unlikely a Taiwanese student missing at a NSW south coastbeach was taken by a shark despite a recent surge in sightings, a local rescue authoritysaid.
McDonald's Aerial Patrol (MAP) general manager Harry Mitchell's comments quashed concernssharks may have been linked to the Taiwanese man's disappearance which comes after a Dutchtourist was savaged by a shark on the Great Barrier Reef earlier today.
The aerial rescue authority's crews had spotted up to 15 hammerhead sharks close toswimmers at south coast beaches on the weekend.
But Mr Mitchell said no sharks had been spotted in the area where the man was believedto have gone missing.
"Whilst a number of sharks were seen on south coast beaches over this weekend, no sightingwas recorded at or near Corrimal Beach today," he told AAP.
"It's not considered likely that he was taken by a shark."
Police said the 26-year-old man was in Australia on a student visa and described himas about 170cm tall with a slight build and short black hair.
He was wearing navy-coloured, Speedo-style bathers and a short sleeve blue t-shirtand had an orange and blue boogie board.
A friend reported him missing at East Corrimal Beach at about 1.30pm (AEDT), promptinga high level search, a police spokesman said.
Unfavourable sea conditions had hampered a land, water and air search, which will continuetomorrow.
MAP said its aircraft, which had joined the search, scoured an extensive area betweenFlagstaff Hill and Bulli and up to three kilometres offshore, without any trace of theman.
More than a dozen sharks were spotted this morning at Buckleys Beach near Mollymookon the NSW South Coast about 75 metres from swimmers, while a three metre bronze whalerwas spotted yesterday about 20 metres from bathers, Mr Mitchell said.
He said the aircraft siren was activated to immediately evacuate all people from thewater after each sighting.
Sharks were increasingly becoming a danger to beachgoers, coming closer to shore dueto the rise in ocean temperatures and depleted fish stocks along the coastline, Mr Mitchellsaid.
"It is not unusual to find sharks within the first three lines of breakers," he said.
A 20-year-old Dutch tourist attacked by a hammerhead shark in far north Queenslandtoday suffered severe lacerations to her left arm, authorities said.
Intensive care paramedic Chris Beadnell said he believed the woman was snorkellingwith a tour group near Upolo Cay, 16 nautical miles from Cairns, when the attack occurredbetween 2.30pm and 3pm (AEST).
Mr Beadnell said the woman was taken by boat to shore then flown to the Cairns BaseHospital, where she was conscious and reported to be in a stable condition.
The incident follows the death of 23-year-old Bo Martin after being attacked by bullshark in a Gold Coast canal earlier this month.
AAP as/sco/de
KEYWORD: SHARK NSW
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