Woman Missing After Shark Attack in Fish Hoek

A Metro emergency helicopter despatched to the scene of an apparent shark attack at Fish Hoek Beach, outside Cape Town, returned to base without locating a woman who was apparently attacked by a Great White shark early on Monday morning.

(PRWEB) November 21, 2004 -- A Metro emergency helicopter despatched to the scene of an apparent shark attack at Fish Hoek Beach, outside Cape Town, returned to base without locating a woman who was apparently attacked by a Great White shark early on Monday morning.

National Sea Rescue Institute and other emergency services personnel were still at the scene.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said a full scale search was under way for the elderly woman, presumed to be in her 60s.

Lambinon said a shark had been spotted in the vicinity of Clovelly, near Fish Hoek.

"The shark is bigger than the helicopter... it is huge," he said.

Lambinon said the woman had been identified, but her name would not be released until her next of kin was informed.

Lambinon said an witness, False Bay Yacht Club commodore Paul Bennet, told rescue personnel the shark "came up and grabbed her, circled and grabbed her again" before she disappeared.

The last shark attack in the same vicinity was in April this year, when a 16-year-old surfer was attacked off Muizenberg beach.

JP Andrew was in a critical condition after losing his right leg in the attack, but has made a remarkable recovery.

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