A surfer from Cape Town is in a stable condition and in good spirits after being bitten by a shark earlier today, May 3, while surfing at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
Paul van Jaarsveld, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said at 17:30, May 3, NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a man bitten by a shark while surfing at Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said a bystander had raised the alarm and was provided with the access code to the NSRI shark bite kit stationed at that beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Van Jaarsveld said NSRI Jeffreys Bay rescue swimmers and NSRI medics responded directly to the scene while an NSRI rescue craft was prepared to be launched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He further said Private Care ambulance services, Gardmed ambulance services, the SAPS and EC Government Health EMS responded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOn arrival at the scene NSRI medics assisted public members who had already applied trauma pads to a bite wound sustained by the surfer who was safe out of the water,\u201d said van Jaarsveld.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe patient, believed to be aged 50, from Cape Town, was in a stable condition and he was in good spirits.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Van Jaarsveld said an eyewitness reported that fellow surfers, who had initially retreated out of the water after being alerted that there had been an incident involving a shark, had returned to the surf to fetch the casualty out of the water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said paramedics took over care of the patient where he was secured onto a stretcher, brought off the beach and then transported to hospital by a Gardmed ambulance for further care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Van Jaarsveld said NSRI commend the swift action of the public members, the good Samaritan and fellow surfers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said NSRI and Kouga Municipality are appealing to bathers, surfers and sea users in the area to be cautious following this incident.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0NSRI emergency contact number is 087 094 9774.\u00a0<\/p>\n