this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2024
157 points (97.6% liked)

World News

38970 readers
3492 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

The severed leg of a surfer who was attacked by a shark has washed up on an Australian beach, with doctors now racing to see if it can be reattached.

Kai McKenzie, 23, was surfing near Port Macquarie in New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday, when a 3m (9.8ft) great white shark bit him.

He managed to catch a wave into shore, where an off-duty police officer used a makeshift tourniquet to stem his bleeding, according to authorities.

His leg washed up a short time later and was put on ice by locals before being taken to hospital, where a medical team is now assessing surgery options.

top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 68 points 3 months ago (2 children)

shark didn't even eat it... talk about insult to injury

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 52 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I once heard a shark expert say that most of the time when sharks bite humans, it's not because they want to eat them, it's because that's kind of how they sense the world. Sort of "hmm... wonder what this tastes like? *CHOMP* Nope. Not shark food." I'm guessing that even applies when the leg is bitten completely off.

[–] mecfs@lemmy.world 31 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yep. Most attacks by great whites are shark “children” just learning about food trying different stuff.

[–] Iceman@lemmy.ca 22 points 3 months ago

Aw, that’s so cute.

[–] tomten@lemmy.world 30 points 3 months ago

Yeah sharks don't like the taste of people but they generally have poor eyesight so they mistake surfers etc splashing on the surface for food or as you say just curious.

[–] 0ops@lemm.ee 8 points 3 months ago

So they're sea puppies

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 31 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

They don't. Our silhouettes get mistaken for seals or something fatty and delicious underneath, but the bite is just fibreglass, bit of meat, and immediately bone. There's a few sharks in Australia that will keep going—like the bulls and nurses—but sharks like the great white will deliver a devistating "curiosity" bite and that's usually it. Usually they are not near beaches, but will be there to chase food in the area in desperate times, especially around headlands or spits.

In surf lifesaving training as a teen, we were taught to get off the board, showing true form, and blow bubbles to disorientate, curing any curisoty. To my knowledge, that's never failed, but it's not like anyone's keeping record. In the situation if there's no wave to take in, it's the best known option to reducing chances of being bit.

I'd like to say how rare it is for that species (deep sea) and that size to be that close to a shore, let alone to attack 1 of tens of thousands that surf in Australia daily; but idiots will still call for a shark cull so they don't have to worry about their toddlers splashing in ankle deep water.

Last time it happened a few years ago, the surfer that got attacked condemned the culling, because surfers know rhat they're 50–150m out in the middle of other animals homes. Well past where all the breaking/rolling waves take action, which sharks don't go into—not even dolphins, really. Obviously it will happen to a very unlucky person every now and again. People that far out from the shore respect the ocean and everything within very much.

Sharks are cool and respected.

Edit: saltesc = saltwater escape. Grown up in Australian ocean.

[–] SoJB@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Possibly tourist “shark watch” charters chumming up the shallow water? This is the theory many locals have for the increased incidence of shark attacks in Hawaii.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 months ago

None of the shark tours I'm aware of operate in shallow water. Anywhere that's good for surfing is terrible for hanging around in a cage and the sharks are much more reliable in deep water.

And if they were chumming in shallow waters they'd be pretty easily caught. If they're close enough for chumming to influence the sharks around surfers they're very visible from shore.

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 50 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The keen surfer had only recently returned to the water after suffering a significant neck injury which forced him to take time off from the sport...

Well...shit.

[–] monkeyslikebananas2@lemmy.world 38 points 3 months ago

Bro can’t take a hint

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 13 points 3 months ago

A new leg end is born.

[–] JacksonLamb@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Bit of an emotional rollercoaster for the poor guy.

Shark attack.

But I escape.

But my leg is now missing.

But hey my leg just washed up.

[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Science... because it was in cold briny water scientists are able to stitch it back! Maybe one day! Like you take the leg, put it in a special jelly, flow some artificial blood into it for 3 months and magically the leg is ready to stitch back onto the body.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 2 points 3 months ago

And now the stress of waiting to know if it salvageable