CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) -- Police were searching on Tuesday for the bodies of two surfers killed by sharks in separate attacks on consecutive days about 200 kilometers (125 miles) apart off South Australia's remote western coastline.
A 17-year-old local youth, named by local media as Jevan Wright, was ripped from his surfboard about 50 metres (yards) off Black Point, near Elliston, 400 km (250 miles) west of Adelaide, at about 1 p.m. (0330 GMT) on Monday.
Two surfing friends who witnessed the attack were unable to identify the type of shark as they only saw the tail but it was believed to be a great white, the most ferocious member of the shark family which frequents temperate south Australian waters.
Early Sunday, a 25-year-old honeymooning New Zealander, identified as Cameron Bayes, was attacked by a four-meter (13 feet) long great white shark while surfing about 80 metres (yards) off the remote Cactus Beach, about 200 km (125 miles) west of Elliston.
In both cases only pieces of the mangled surfboards were recovered.
Police spokeswoman Jenny Barrett said police and local volunteers in boats and four-wheel drive vehicles were searching the area around Anxious Bay near Elliston for any sign of the missing teenage surfer out at sea or on the beach.
Four-wheel drives were continuing to search the beaches and sand dunes around Cactus Beach.
"So far there has been no sign of either surfer," Barrett told Reuters.
Despite popular belief that shark attacks are common in Australia, on average only one person a year is killed by sharks and about six attacks reported.
John West from the Australian Shark Attack File, kept by Sydney's Taronga Zoo, said it was the first time in 23 years two fatal attacks were recorded in the same state in one year.
He said it was very unlikely it was the same shark in both deaths due to the distance between the attacks.
Copyright2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
 |
RELATED STORIES: For more ASIANOW news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select. RELATED SITES: See related sites about Australasia
Australasian media sites
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.ncG1vJloZp6cmam2sLqNnKWnZpOkunB%2Bj2lnaHmDfo6Pm7ZomK6rpKeura3SophoaGlkf3Z7wK6qraqRobaietKhmKujXqeytsCOoqWdnahjtbW5yw%3D%3D