TERRIBLE FATAL ENCOUNTER WITH A SHARK.

Kumara Times, Issue 1331, 6 January 1881, Page 2

TERRIBLE FATAL ENCOUNTER WITH A SHARK.

The Brisbane Courier gives the following particulars of a fight by a boy with a shark :—On the afternoon of Thursday, 25th November, Victor and Alexy Drury, with three companions, went down to a rocky point in Petrie’s Light, just below Mr Drury’s residence, to bathe. The lads have continually bathed in the same place before, and the two Drury’s being good swimmers, have been in the habit of swimming across the river. The late hot weather,

however, has rendered the river most unsafe, and since the occurrence we are about to relate numerous accoiints have come t 6 light of dogs beihg token by sharks—accpitnts that it Would have beeii belter to have given a wide publicity trt at the tittle; with a VieW df deterring bathers from erl Countering thb same awful hazrtd. It has always been known, however; '-that summer bathing in the river was attended with a certain amoiint df risk, yet, as no accident-has occurred heretofo-.d; bathers had come to regard the danger as too remote to interfere with their indulgence in a luxury only properly appreciated by dwelled in i hot climate. On that Thursday afternddn the five boys had been swimming arid diving about the. Dfeep. Rock for some time. The fun was over, and all had left the Water but Alexy Dnlry, who was splashing about While the other boys were dressing. He had just attracted their attention by calling Out;. “ Shark, shark ?” It was at first thought the poor boy was joking; but it was only for a few seconds his companions remained in any doubt of hia dreadful situation. A shark five feet or six feet in length conld be seen 'jdat below the surface, and the crimson bite of the troubled water where the brave, little lad was battling for his life told how dreadfully unequal was the combat. Many a strong swimmer attacked in so fatal a manner would have succumbed withont a struggle, .and, his heart dying within him, would have gone under, death by drowning mercifully ended his sufferings. Hot so young Drury. His boy’s heart was a stouter one by far than is given td most men. He never for a moment lost his presence of mind, flight was.. impossible, surrender out of the question, and with a dauntless courage be--yond all praise the heroic little fellow turned upon his assailant and Struck at him till he succeeded in freeing himself. Then horribly mnltilated, he ea< fayed to reach the shore. But the dreadful fight was not yet over. The shark, though beaten off, had not abandoned the pursuit, and just as the poor lad was reaching the landing-’■ place his cruel assailant.'seized ; liim .. by the other foot and dragged him ' under. He Was at this time ad near the recks that one off the beye jumped in and Seized:.^him. by the v hand, and with the of the -C' other three the sufferer-.was-ultimately dragged from the monster.and laid upon the hank. The injuries’ (je had received ' were truly fearful character. .The ,, v; flesh had’been stripped from, his from the calf,downwards, and both .feet ; had been horribly crushed and mangled. Though weak from loss of blood the brave little fellow- was , perfectly cairn , and collected, and on his fathers arrival his chief concern 'appeared to be’ to lessen the shock jiis dreadful .plight;.pe- : casioned, by assurances which be tried to make encouraging. Drs. Concanon, —■ Cannan,-and O’Doherty; who - ''were-.in attendance decided to amputate both legs below the knee, and that evening the operation was successfully performed. But the poor hoy had been previously drained of his life’s force, and although the day after the operation he seemed to rally, and lived through that day. '' and the next night, on the Saturday morning, shortly before 9 o’clock he breathed his last.