Global Shark Attacks 2012
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This is a comprehensive list of all shark attacks worldwide in the year 2012, written as they happened.
Sharks have become a critically endangered species, and more must be done to protect them to prevent their total annihilation in our lifetimes.
Sharks do not come on land to attack us. If we want to venture into their environment, then we take the risk of being attacked by sharks.
Most if not all shark attacks are accidental in the sense that sharks thought we were food, without realising that we were not, in fact, seals or some other palatable delicacy.
One bite is usually all they take, before they realise their mistake. We have too many bones and a distinct lack of blubber.
Unfortunately, that one bite can be enough to kill us.
There has always been a morbid curiosity about sharks and shark attacks of which fatalities actually increased world-wide in 2011.
The reasons for this are widespread and complex, but may include:
- Overfishing of the shark's natural prey, leaving a shortage.
- Hungry sharks are moving into cooler waters where previously they had not been seen, and in 2011 attacked two people in north east Russia in waters that had never previously recorded a shark attack.
- Global warming. Myth or not, if it is exists, that could explain the odd movement of sharks into cooler waters.
Year
| Reported Shark Attacks
| Fatal
|
|---|---|---|
2012
| 16 (so far)
| 3
|
2011
| 67
| 13
|
2010
| 79
| 6
|
2009
| 63
| 6
|
2008
| 53
| 4
|
May 2012 Shark Attacks
On May 6th, 2012, a fifteen year old Californian girl had a lucky escape when a shark bit her board several times as she was paddleboarding with a group of others off the coast of Santa Catalina Island, L.A. County.
Despite her board suffering from severe damage, the girl was uninjured.
The shark encounter took place about 200 yards off shore, about a mile from Avalon, in the early morning incident.
The shark was later identified as a great white.
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A woman was bitten by a shark as she was swimming in the waters off Vero Beach, Indian River County, Florida, on the 9th of May, 2012.
47 year old Karin Ulrike Stei of Konstanz, Germany, was flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce where she received treatment for the 12" laceration that went down to the bone ono her upper left thigh.
The type of shark responsible is unknown, but both bull and tiger sharks frequent the area.
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April 2012 shark attacks
On April 3rd, 2012, 28 year old Joshua Holley was bitten twice on the foot by a 10 foot tiger shark, while surfing off Oahu's North Shore, Honolulu.
The shark bit him and he fought it off with his surfboard, but it then bit him again.
He required minor surgery on his foot which was lacerated.
He was detained at Wahiawa General Hospital, Hawaii.
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On April 12th, 2012, Michael Demasi, 27, was kayaking in Dolphin Bay, South Australia, when his kayak was suddenly attacked from below by a great white shark. The shark's teeth penetrated Michael's thigh, but only just, causing minimal damage.
At first Michael had thought he had accidentally hit rocks, and jumped overboard to inspect the damage. At this point he noticed the shark, which then continued to attack the kayak, which luckily for him he was no longer in. He then swam safely to the shore with the help of his fellow kayaker, Elise Lavers, who witnessed the entire event.
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*FATAL* On April 19th, 20 year old champion surfer David Lilienfeld, was savaged by a great white shark while bodyboarding with his brother in the warm Indian Ocean waters of Koeel Bay, just east of Cape Town, South Africa.
The 16' shark bit his right leg off from the hip, causing devastating injuries. David died at the scene very quickly and his brother, Gustav, helped assist his body to nearby rocks, where it was recovered by the emergency service by air.
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Also on April 19th, 2012, 28 year old ocean engineering student Justin Ellingham was severely bitten on his left hand by a 5ft unidentified shark while surfing off Melbourne Beach in Florida's Space Coast.
His wound required emergency care at Holmes Regional Medical Center, and his fingers will require reconstructive surgery.
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March 2012 shark attacks
On March 4th, 2012, 19 year old Justin Worrall was bitten by a shark on the leg, twice, while kite-surfing off the coast of PlayaLinda Beach, Brevard Country, Florida.
He felt a tug on his leg, and then saw a shark's fin nearby.
He was taken by ambulance to hospital where his leg and foot required stitches.
This is the first US shark bite of 2012.
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On March14th, two teenagers were attacked by sharks in two separate areas off New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida.
Both had been surfing in waist deep waters.
Officials in the area believe that two separate sharks were responsible, as the attacks happened within minutes of each other in different areas.
15 year old Sidney Levy had her ankle bitten and was rushed to hospital and later released.
17 year old Nick Romano was bitten in the calf of his leg and 17 stitches were applied by paramedics who attended to him on the beach.
The shark/s responsible was described as being between 4' and 5' long, with a mouth a foot wide.
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On 15th March, 61 year old Frank A. Wacha Jr. was savaged by a 5' - 6' long bull shark near Jensen Beach, Martin County, Florida, while surfing.
His left arm was bitten multiple times, but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
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On 20th March, 20 year old student, Billy O'Leary, was bitten by a shark at Nobby Beach, on Australia's Gold Coast.
Billy, who had been surfing 150 metres off-shore, was attacked by what is described as a small bull shark.
His lower left left suffered a deep wound, but the bleeding was stemmed by bristanetimes.com.au lifesavers who were on the scene within minutes. Their quick action may well have saved this young man's life. He was taken to Gold Coast Hospital where he is currently in a stable condition.
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*FATAL* - On 31st of March, 33 year old Peter Kurmann was killed by a 4m long shark while diving off Stratham Beach in South West Australia. His 34 year brother, who had been with him, assisted the crew of a nearby boat to recovered the badly mauled body, which was then taken south to Busselton, where experts are hopeful of being able to identify the type of shark involved by examining his wounds.
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Gosford, Australia, shark attack 2012
January 2012 Shark Attacks
January 3 - 28 year old Mike Wells was badly bitten in the arm by what is believed to be a 6' bronze whaler (copper shark), while surfing at Avoca beach, Gosford, Australia. The incident happened in the evening which is the worst time for shark attacks as this is during their feeding time. A tourniquet was needed to stop the bleeding, but he is expected to survive.
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January 18 - 44 year surfer, Glenn Folkard, was attacked by what is believed to be either a great white or a bull shark, at Redhead beach, Newcastle, Australia. The shark severely lacerated his thigh and buttocks. He is recovering in hospital.
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January 19 - 26 year old David Pickering was attacked by a 10' tiger shark while swimming off Coral bay Beach, north of Sidney, Australia. He suffered bite marks on his arm, but is expected to survive.
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Australia normally expect to have three shark attacks per year. Instead, it looks like a gloomy year ahead for Australian tourism with so many attacks happening so early in the year.
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January 15 - *FATAL* 25 year old Lungisani Msungubana was killed by a bull shark while bathing in warm, waist-deep waters off Second Beach in Port St John's, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
By a macabre quirk of fate, his death comes exactly a year to the day since 16 year old Zama Ndamase was killed at the same spot while surfing.
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This brings the total number of shark attacks at Second Beach to six in six years, with every single one of them resulting in a fatality, making it the most dangerous beach to swim at in the world.
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Second Beach, Port St John's, South Africa - *FATAL* Lungisani Msungubana
avoca beach, gosford, australia - 
redhead beach, newcastle, australia - 
coral bay beach, sidney, australia - 
PlayaLinda Beach - 
Nobby beach - 
Jensen Beach - 
Smyrna Beach - 
Busselton - 
Oahu North Beach - - Global Shark Attacks 2012
This is a complete listing of all shark attacks occurring worldwide in the year 2012. - 3 months ago
- Top 10 Most Dangerous Sharks in the World
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- How to Stop a Shark Attack Victim from Bleeding to Death
Knowing the first aid required to stop a shark attack victim from bleeding to death could save a life while waiting for the emergency services to arrive. - 8 months ago
- What Types of Sharks Live in British Waters
If you've ever wondered what types of sharks live in British waters, you might be surprised to learn just how many there are. - 4 months ago
- How to Avoid a Shark Attack While Swimming
While you are more likely to get hit by lightening that become a victim of shark attack, it is still a good idea to know how to avoid a shark attack while swimming. - 8 months ago
- Sharks of the Mediterranean Sea
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CommentsLoading...
Funny you should mention that, because I read extensively about the boy who was killed, and how the authorities are undecided about whether or not to install shark nets round the beach because there is such a wide ranging public opinion that has sparked a huge debate. Frequently commenters to those forums or articles pointed to the cage diving and the chum feeding of sharks being responsible for a rise in inshore numbers of sharks who less fearful of humans due to their other close encounters underwater. Then there is talk of a river full of effluent streaming into this beach, which will definitely attract sharks. Seems tourism is an important industry in Port St John's. They may live to regret their non-action.
Port St. Johns is a sort of upper middle class/rich holiday resort. It's always been where people have vacation homes, etc. It's on the wild coast, in the Transkei. It's part of the Eastern Cape and close to Port Elizabeth where I grew up. The beaches are stunning. Shark attacks used to be predominantly Durban but are increasingly switching to Cape Town for about the last 15 years...
Fascinating stuff! Thanks :) I looked at your link and it is a beautiful place. I must look more at the shark problem, especially as you say they are on the move from their traditional haunts.
Love this hub. I find sharks mysterious and exciting and voted up on your hub.
John
Thanks John. It would be nice if this was a rare year and this hubs never needed added to, but judging by last year, sadly there will be a lot more entries in this hub to come.
Izzy is fascinated by sharks, and I'm fascinated that she's fascinated with sharks. I want to write a hub about Izzy and the sharks! LOL! Kidding.
All I have to say about that one beach...er...second beach is "oh heck no I'm not getting in the water."
I might just have to enjoy the scenery of that one, or maybe try to catch crabs, or pry up mussels...but no thanks on the swimming.
I saw a petition about a ban on fin soup in some east coast state...probably Massachusetts - today on facebook. I might be surprised to find out..but I doubt there's much of a demand for fin soup in that state anyway.
It's totally bizarre how shark's could be in danger of become so rare, and that at the same time attacks on humans are increasing. I guess there's definitely the fact that there are more humans now than ever before for one thing...but the rest is sort of strange.
There's not the slightest bit of doubt in my mind about whether or not there is global warming, and that it's causing species to find homes where they've never even hung out before either.
You raised some interesting points.
Massachusetts or any other state surely have plenty Chinese restaurants, all of whom sell sharks fin soup, so good reason for the ban.
On Second Beach all the lifeguards have been laid off (the town council has financial problems) and there is no-one to warn the tourists not to go in the water. And yes they are going in, in their 100s.
The increase in shark attacks has a direct bearing on not only increase in populations, but of more people taking up watersports.
The sea temperatures have not changed despite all the talk of global warming, and yet warm-water sharks are being found in cooler waters though no-one knows why,yet.
:) When I was a young child there used to be sharks in the water at Camps Bay and Sea pot in Cape Town. The water is icy cold here. A life saver used to sit on a high seat- like a ladder- and shout 'shark' and everyone would get out of the water although we only just messed about on the shore line. I can still recall those triangles sticking out in the water and they did come quite close!
Sharks are not only hunted by Asians for shark soup. It was a hectic sport to catch sharks in the Gordon's Bay - Strand area in particular and championships were held until sharks were declared a protected species.
People also hunt sharks for their jaws as trophies and in some instances the teeth are used in jewelry.
I is still a male ego thing to hunt sharks and guys that don't have boasts line the beach in the Milnerton area to watch for teeth that might wash up with the tide. The fishing boats in the area no doubt dump sharks and kill seals because dead seals wash up too and their skulls are always bashed in.
I've never really understood the fascination some people have with hunting sharks, but to be honest even if every single man in the area spent his time hunting down sharks, it would hardly make a dent in their population. The real problem really is the fishermen who fish sharks commercially because they remove thousands of sharks from the seas, mostly young sharks and that really does reduce their numbers because sharks reproduce so slowly. When it comes down to man versus sharks, I have to say that man is more important, to me anyway. It would be nice if someone could find a way to repel sharks so that surfers don't die needlessly.
One way might be shark belts or something made from dead sharks, and somehow kept fresh so that they smell. Research has shown that the slightest whiff of a dead shark is enough to repel sharks and keep them well away, and only a small tissue sample is needed, their olfactory senses are so strong.
Sophia Angelique Level 6 Commenter 3 months ago
I grew up knowing about shark attacks in the warm waters of Durban (which is close to Port. St. Johns). Great Whites abound. Now they're in Cape Town (cold water) where, for the sake of eco tourism, they send down divers in cages, and then feed sharks horse meet in order to create a feeding frenzy. I think it's something Cape Tonians are going to live to regret.