Beaches around Plettenberg Bay have been closed following a fatal shark attack at Central Beach earlier this morning, September 25.
The NSRI and the Bitou Municipality are appealing to the public to be cautious along the Plettenberg Bay and Southern Cape coastline. Beaches have been closed in Plettenberg Bay by the Bitou Municipalty.
According to Craig Lambinon, NSRI Spokesperson, Plettenberg Bay and the police services were activated at 07:53 following reports of a shark incident at Central Beach.
“The sea rescue craft Eric Stratford was launched. On arrival on the scene, the body of a believed to be 39-year-old female from Cape Town was recovered from the water and brought to the beach,” Lambinon said.
Police have taken the body into their care together with government health, forensic pathology services and police have opened an inquest docket.
In a Facebook post by Karen Robberg, admin of Plett News and Info Facebook page, the victim’s husband and child were on the scene. “They are visitors to Plett,” Robberg wrote.
Andile Namntu, Bitou Communications Manager, said the Bitou Council in May approved a research on shark barrier at central beach.
“This study will go a long way to assist in understanding the behaviour of the sharks. At this moment there seems to be more shark activities at our beaches. This is very unusual when compared with previous years,” Namntu said.
Bitou Municipality have also established a shark committee to work with experienced private sector personnel to assist with limiting such incidents.
News24 earlier reported that Plettenberg Bay beach was the scene of a deadly shark attack in June this year, prompting authorities to close beaches in the Western Cape town for two days, as a precautionary measure.
The NSRI recovered the man in the back surf line at the popular Sanctuary Beach. He was transported to the NSRI station, where he was declared dead.
Earlier this month on September 7 the NSRI and Bitou Municipality also warned of increased shark activity in the area due to a whale carcass that washed ashore.
“The carcass of a Humpback
whale has been spotted in the vicinity between Natures Valley and Keurbooms
Beach with a visible shark presence feeding on the carcass,” the NSRI said at the time.
The identity of the shark attack victim is still unknown.
