Latest news with #RichardVinall
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why Are Sharks Attacking Like Crazy in South Australia?
Richard Vinall was in the midst of his morning routine, a swim at Port Noarlunga, last week, when the 60-something-year-old man was attacked by a shark. He was bitten on the thigh, badly. After being treated on the beach, he was transported to the hospital where he remains in critical condition. This was just the latest in a surge of attacks, sightings, and curious behavior from sharks on South Australia's coastline. The area has a history of being sharky. But this is something different. And now, officials believe they know why – or at least a contributing factor – to the spike in attacks. Speaking with ABC, Deputy Premier Susan Close, (and also the state's environment minister) named a huge, toxic algal bloom as the culprit for sharks 'not behaving normally.' She continued: '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.' The apparent algal bloom – which is harmful to marine life, even causing neurological damage – is the size of Kangaroo Island off South Australia. That's more than triple the size of Los a 10-foot great white shark found itself stranded in shallow water at a South Australia beach. Locals waded out to the shark, and helped it back to sea, using only their bare hands. Speaking to the aberrant nature of such an incident, one of the rescuers recounted: 'The tide was on its way out, and it looked to be confused.' In that scenario, luckily, nobody was nipped. And soon after, another 10-foot great white beached itself at a different South Australia beach. This one could not be saved. As one witness said, 'It was struggling. It was rolling around. Its belly was up. It looked like it was pretty sick.'Looking back over the last two years, it hasn't just been sharks washing ashore sick and confused. Two surfers have been killed in South Australia. Earlier this year, 28-year-old Lance Appleby was taken by a shark while surfing Granites Beach on the Eyre Peninsula, and his body was never found; then, in 2023, 15-year-old Khai Cowley was attacked and killed while surfing Ethel Beach. Watch out, South Australians. It's getting seriously sharky down there.
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'.
West Australian
18-05-2025
- West Australian
South Australian Police warns of 3m shark at Noarlunga Jetty days after attack on Richard Vinall
A shark has been sighted at the very same spot of a gruesome shark attack just days earlier. The South Australian Police reported on Sunday morning an estimated three-metre shark had been sighted at Noarlunga Jetty, a popular swimming and fishing spot about 33km south of the Adelaide CBD. On Thursday, a shark attacked swimmer Richard Vinall at the jetty, putting him in hospital in a serious condition. Mr Vinall, aged in his 60s, was bitten on the thigh about 9.45am. He was pulled from the water and treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to Flinders Hospital in a serious condition. The alarming incident follows a spate of shark attacks that have hit South Australia, including fatal attacks. In January, 28-year-old surfer Lance Appleby was taken by a shark at Granites Beach in Streaky Bay in the Eyre Peninsula. Adelaide teenager Khai Cowley was killed in an attack off Ethel Beach in December, 2023. In October that year, Tod Gendle was killed while he was surfing near Streaky Bay, with a huge 4m great white thought to be the culprit. In May 2023, teacher Simon Baccanello was believed to have been killed by a shark while surfing at Walkers Rock near Ellison on the state's west Sunday morning, the South Australian government announced shark patrols along the state's coastline would be extended until the June long weekend. The government cited 'unseasonably warm weather and an increase in shark sightings at popular beaches' for the extension. Fixed-wing surveillance aircraft patrols will continue to monitor beaches on weekenders from North Haven to Rapid Bay, and on the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula between Waitpinga Beach, east of Victor Harbor, and the Murray Mouth. The aircraft siren has been activated more than 90 times this season, indicating that there were either people in the water or on the beach in the vicinity of the sighting, the government said. Surf Life Saving SA is also rolling out trauma kits and shark sighting boards across regional communities as part of a broader shark mitigation package. 'In the coming days, we will be announcing the installation of new shark signage in regional locations as well as the first delivery of trauma kits – all important lifesaving resources and tailored solutions we believe will make a real difference, both for locals and visitors, in these remote coastal communities,' Surf Life Saving SA CEO Damien Marangon said. 'We're also proactively and positively working with State Government on future safety measures to help keep swimmers safe along our metropolitan coastline.' Since November, surveillance aircraft crews have conducted 450 flights and notched 1200 hours in the air.
Perth Now
18-05-2025
- Perth Now
Shark spotted days after serious attack
A shark has been sighted at the very same spot of a gruesome shark attack just days earlier. The South Australian Police reported on Sunday morning an estimated three-metre shark had been sighted at Noarlunga Jetty, a popular swimming and fishing spot about 33km south of the Adelaide CBD. On Thursday, a shark attacked swimmer Richard Vinall at the jetty, putting him in hospital in a serious condition. Mr Vinall, aged in his 60s, was bitten on the thigh about 9.45am. He was pulled from the water and treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to Flinders Hospital in a serious condition. The alarming incident follows a spate of shark attacks that have hit South Australia, including fatal attacks. In January, 28-year-old surfer Lance Appleby was taken by a shark at Granites Beach in Streaky Bay in the Eyre Peninsula. Adelaide teenager Khai Cowley was killed in an attack off Ethel Beach in December, 2023. Another shark has been spotted at Port Noarlunga Jetty. Picture Mark Brake Credit: News Corp Australia In October that year, Tod Gendle was killed while he was surfing near Streaky Bay, with a huge 4m great white thought to be the culprit. In May 2023, teacher Simon Baccanello was believed to have been killed by a shark while surfing at Walkers Rock near Ellison on the state's west Sunday morning, the South Australian government announced shark patrols along the state's coastline would be extended until the June long weekend. The government cited 'unseasonably warm weather and an increase in shark sightings at popular beaches' for the extension. Fixed-wing surveillance aircraft patrols will continue to monitor beaches on weekenders from North Haven to Rapid Bay, and on the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula between Waitpinga Beach, east of Victor Harbor, and the Murray Mouth. Multiple shark sightings and a spate of attacks have hit South Australia in the past few months. Nine News Credit: Supplied The aircraft siren has been activated more than 90 times this season, indicating that there were either people in the water or on the beach in the vicinity of the sighting, the government said. Surf Life Saving SA is also rolling out trauma kits and shark sighting boards across regional communities as part of a broader shark mitigation package. 'In the coming days, we will be announcing the installation of new shark signage in regional locations as well as the first delivery of trauma kits – all important lifesaving resources and tailored solutions we believe will make a real difference, both for locals and visitors, in these remote coastal communities,' Surf Life Saving SA CEO Damien Marangon said. 'We're also proactively and positively working with State Government on future safety measures to help keep swimmers safe along our metropolitan coastline.' Since November, surveillance aircraft crews have conducted 450 flights and notched 1200 hours in the air.
