STRUGGLE WITH SHARK.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 January 1919, Page 3

STRUGGLE WITH SHARK.

SWIMMER GRAVELY INJURED,

RESCUE BY COMPANIONS. DRAGGED FROM MONSTER’S JAWS. A sensational struggle with a shark occurred off the Newcastle beach c January 17, when one of the monsters, measuring between 12ft and 14ft, swam to within 20yds of the dry sand on Newcastle beach, and in 3ft of water, among a crowd of about 400 surfers, attacked and seriously injured a bather, Mr. Douglass Arkell, aged 19 years.

As Arkell was entering the surf one of his companions, Roy Shaw, pointed to an object lying on the sand in the low water just in front of them, and said, “Look out, there’s a shark.” Arkeli and the others laughed, and then, dived.

A second later Arkell rose to tin surface struggling violently and calling out for help. Thinking he was joking, his mates paid no heed, but later, seeing that he was plunging in bloodstained water, they rushed to his assistance. The first to reach him was Harold Bay, a returned soldier and the holder of a Military Medal. With Shaw, A; Ga|lagher, and V. Taylor, Bay fought the shark, and after a struggle succeeded in tearing the unfortunate swimmer from the monster’s jaws. It made another snap and then swam away.

Arkell was at once removed to the Newcastle Hospital, where on admission it was found that his left leg was practically torn away from the knee, and had to be amputated about the knee. His left arm was deeply lacerated, the flesh being laid bare to the bouc, and upon his body were inflicted de?p lacerations.

Arkell is the captain of the Newcastle Surf Club, and holder of its championship. He was a strong and fearless swimmer, and has the record of having performed the greatest number of rescues on the beach during the season. He is a nephew of Mr. W. T. Dick, M.L.C., and Alderman G. Dick, and recently had a brother killed at the war.

A shark, measuring lift, was caught from the stern of the steamer Sonoma, which is lying at the quarantine area in Sydney Harbour.