A great white shark killed a 20-year-old professional bodyboarder Thursday off the southern tip of Africa. National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said the victim, identified in several media reports as David Lilienfeld, died after losing his right leg to the shark in Kogel Bay off Cape Town.
''The deceased man sustained complete amputation of his right leg, below the hip, while bodyboarding with his brother and friends,'' Lambinon said. ''There are no other bite marks or lacerations on the deceased man's body - only the complete amputation of the right leg, and the leg has not been recovered.''
Lilienfeld was pulled to shore by his 18-year-old brother, Gustav, who was also bodyboarding. The shark was estimated to be up to 16 feet long. Witnesses say the shark attacked twice and Lilienfeld attempted to fend it off with his bodyboard.
Some six sharks were spotted in the bay after the attack. Thursday’s shark attack was the second fatal attack in South Africa this year. The first happened in January at Second Beach in the Eastern Cape. One male swimmer died.
Lilienfeld competed for South Africa in last year’s bodyboarding world competition. He was ranked third in the South African Bodyboarding Association’s pro division.
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