Latest news with #PortNoarlunga
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bombshell claim after shark attack
A 'toxic algal bloom' has been blamed for recent attacks and washing up of sharks on South Australia's beaches. Last week, a shark bit Richard Vinall, a man in his 60s out for a swim on Port Noarlunga, leaving him fighting for life. The horror attack came in the same period several sharks washed up on Adelaide's beaches, amid growing concerns over SA's marine life. Numerous shark sightings have been made by locals, with authorities warning beachgoers to stay out of the waters. Deputy Premier Susan Close, who is also the state's environment minister, told ABC that the state is experiencing a huge algal bloom that is not only 'driving the sharks away' but also 'poisoning them' and in some cases making them act more aggressively, comparing the size of the bloom to Kangaroo Island. 'It is an algal bloom that is toxic for fish and so that might explain some of the different behaviour,' she said. 'But also they're coming in closer and as people may have seen on Henley Beach which is a lovely tourist and metropolitan beach in Adelaide, there was a large white (white shark) that washed up, dying, and then, in fact, did die.' Ms Close said the sharks were 'not behaving normally' in two ways. 'They're more numerous along our metropolitan coastline than we normally expect to see and also they appear to be in some distress and there's some talk of them being more aggressive,' she said. Multiple sharks, along with other marine animals like stingrays and other fish, have been found beached since March this year. 'This is an enormous algal bloom. In some parts, we think it's about 20m deep,' Ms Close said. OzFish has estimated nearly 200 species of fish had been killed by the deadly algal bloom, which Ms Close said can be attributed to last year's marine heatwave and a lack of winds that usually help break up the bloom. 'Not only is it poisonous (to fish) but also causes haemorrhaging of the skin and overnight it sucks oxygen out of the ocean beneath it which means that the kind of fish that can't move away are also suffocating,' she said. 'Because it's been unseasonably warm for so long, we have seen more people down by the beach wanting to go for a swim and that's why we have decided to increase the shark patrol for a little longer-than-normal.' The SA government announced on Sunday that shark patrols along the state's coastline would be extended until the June long weekend. South Australia has been hit by a string of fatal shark attacks this year. In January, 28-year-old surfer Lance Appleby was attacked by a shark on Granites Beach in Streaky Bay in the Eyre Peninsula. His body was never found. Teenger Khai Cowley was killed in an attack off Ethel Beach in December, 2023. Tod Gendle, 55, was attacked in October that year while he was surfing near Streaky Bay by a suspected 4m great white shark. Teacher Simon Baccanello, 46, was believed to have been killed by a shark while surfing at Walkers Rock near Ellison on the state's west coast. Ms Close warned locals swimming at the beach to be cautious of the 'threats out there'. 'The ocean is not behaving normally,' she said. 'This is exactly what we would expect to happen as climate change becomes more serious, and so really please pay attention'.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘Toxic' waters behind the surge of shark attacks in Adelaide, SA
A 'toxic algal bloom' has been blamed for recent attacks and washing up of sharks on South Australia's beaches. Last week, a shark bit Richard Vinall, a man in his 60s out for a swim on Port Noarlunga, leaving him fighting for life. The horror attack came in the same period several sharks washed up on Adelaide's beaches, amid growing concerns over SA's marine life. Numerous shark sightings have been made by locals, with authorities warning beachgoers to stay out of the waters. Deputy Premier Susan Close, who is also the state's environment minister, told ABC that the state is experiencing a huge algal bloom that is not only 'driving the sharks away' but also 'poisoning them' and in some cases making them act more aggressively, comparing the size of the bloom to Kangaroo Island. 'It is an algal bloom that is toxic for fish and so that might explain some of the different behaviour,' she said. 'But also they're coming in closer and as people may have seen on Henley Beach which is a lovely tourist and metropolitan beach in Adelaide, there was a large white (white shark) that washed up, dying, and then, in fact, did die.' Ms Close said the sharks were 'not behaving normally' in two ways. 'They're more numerous along our metropolitan coastline than we normally expect to see and also they appear to be in some distress and there's some talk of them being more aggressive,' she said. Multiple sharks, along with other marine animals like stingrays and other fish, have been found beached since March this year. 'This is an enormous algal bloom. In some parts, we think it's about 20m deep,' Ms Close said. OzFish has estimated nearly 200 species of fish had been killed by the deadly algal bloom, which Ms Close said can be attributed to last year's marine heatwave and a lack of winds that usually help break up the bloom. 'Not only is it poisonous (to fish) but also causes haemorrhaging of the skin and overnight it sucks oxygen out of the ocean beneath it which means that the kind of fish that can't move away are also suffocating,' she said. 'Because it's been unseasonably warm for so long, we have seen more people down by the beach wanting to go for a swim and that's why we have decided to increase the shark patrol for a little longer-than-normal.' The SA government announced on Sunday that shark patrols along the state's coastline would be extended until the June long weekend. South Australia has been hit by a string of fatal shark attacks this year. In January, 28-year-old surfer Lance Appleby was attacked by a shark on Granites Beach in Streaky Bay in the Eyre Peninsula. His body was never found. Teenger Khai Cowley was killed in an attack off Ethel Beach in December, 2023. Tod Gendle, 55, was attacked in October that year while he was surfing near Streaky Bay by a suspected 4m great white shark. Teacher Simon Baccanello, 46, was believed to have been killed by a shark while surfing at Walkers Rock near Ellison on the state's west coast. Ms Close warned locals swimming at the beach to be cautious of the 'threats out there'. 'The ocean is not behaving normally,' she said. 'This is exactly what we would expect to happen as climate change becomes more serious, and so really please pay attention'.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- News.com.au
Man mauled by shark at Port Nuarlunga, SA, identified
A swimmer who was mauled by a shark at a popular South Australian beach has been identified, with witnesses sharing their accounts of the terrifying incident. It is believed Richard Vinall was taking his regular morning swim at Port Nuarlunga on Thursday morning when he was bitten on the leg. Witnesses reported hearing 'blood-curdling screams' when they were diving underwater, as reported by 9News. They said they heard a woman, presumed to be Mr Vinall's partner, screaming. Police confirmed Mr Vinall was helped from the water and treated at the scene by paramedics, before being taken to hospital in a serious condition. Mr Vinall is currently being treated for injuries to his thigh. Swimmers were evacuated from the water and police urged others to avoid the popular beach, which is about 40 minutes south of Adelaide. Mr Vinall's incident follows a string of shark attacks in South Australia in under two years, some of which have proven fatal. Bridgette O'Shannessy, 32 was diving with her partner, when she was mauled in the head and face by a Great White shark at Port Noarlunga lin November 2023. Ms O'Shannessy made a miracle recovery two months later. Surfer Lance Appleby, 28, was sadly killed by a shark in January at Granites Beach in the Eyre Peninsula. Teenager Khai Cowley, 15, lost his life in an attack last December while surfing at Ethel Beach in the Yorke Peninsula. In October, Tod Gendle was also killed when surfing near Streaky Bay, suspected to be killed by a 4m great white shark. A 46-year-old teacher, Simon Baccanello, also lost his life in a tragic attack while surfing near the Eyre Peninsula in October last year.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Harrowing new details emerge as a swimmer attacked by a shark during his morning dip fights for life
Shocked beachgoers have detailed the horrifying moment a man was attacked by a shark at a popular beach while swimming with his partner. Richard Vinall, aged in his 60s, was completing his regular morning swim at Port Noarlunga Beach, south of Adelaide on Thursday morning when he was bitten on the thigh. He was treated at the scene and rushed to Flinders Medical Centre, where he remains in a critical but stable condition. Witnesses said Mr Vinall's partner had just returned from the water. Tim Green was among a group of divers ordered to get out of the water after as emergency responders vehicles raced to the shoreline. 'The woman had come back in, had heard her partner screaming and, as far as I know, either she went back out to help him or the surf life saving club came out,' he told Nine News. A group of students were among those evacuated from the beach. Terrified beachgoers watched on as Mr Vinall was treated on the shoreline surrounded by a large white sheet. Surf life savers and police spent much of the day searching for the shark from the air and on water. The South Australian Government's shark sighting registry recorded two reported sightings of an unknown species of shark near the Port Noarlunga jetty at 9.49am and 10.03am. Scientists have raised suggestions whether recent toxic algal blooms across the South Australian coastline have caused sharks to swim closer to the shore. One local decided against a swim at Port Noarlunga on Wednesday after spotting unusually active marine life. 'I saw lots of sizeable salmon trout being caught off the Port [Noarlunga] jetty yesterday - a popular food source for sharks - so I decided against a swim,' he wrote online. 'Really hoping the guy bitten this morning is OK, along with his partner/friend who was swimming with him.' A neighbour described Mr Vinall as 'a good bloke and nice guy'. Port Noarlunga, located about 40 minutes south of Adelaide, is a popular destination for swimmers, divers and snorkellers. It's the same spot where Bridgette O'Shannessy was critically injured when she was bitten by a shark while diving with her partner two years ago. She survived the attack but was left with significant nerve damage.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- News.com.au
Swimmer attacked by shark at popular South Australian beach
Now Playing Emergency services have been called to a beach in South Australia after a swimmer was attacked by a shark. The attack occurred at Port Noarlunga beach just before 10am on Thursday. The man was rescued from the water before being treated by paramedics. The swimmer was taken to hospital in a serious condition with injuries to his thigh.
