Mauled By Shark

Aitutaki Diver’s Narrow Escape

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Oct. 17.

OO rarely do sharks attack C.I. swimmers that native fishermen pay them scant attention. In Aitutaki the more daring youths frequently dive down on the inner side of the reef to the holes where sharks snooze during the heat of the day, their heads thrust far into the coral fissures. In this vulnerable posi tion a rope is quickly slipped over their tails, the diver bobs back to the surface and with a tremendous heave his com panions yank the shark up after him.

After such familiarities, it was a pain ful surprise which greeted Terongo, aged 21, and two companions recently whilst fishing with spears and diving goggles beyond the reef at Aitutaki.

An 8-ft, shark, cruising close, had just been gently pushed off with a spear point when, apparently annoyed, he turned and circled inshore towards Terongo. Passing in front of the youth he took a savage lunge, removing at one bite a portion of the boy’s upper arm.

Meanwhile, the other two having come to his assistance, all three managed to scramble on to the reef. The water in their wake was deeply stained, and ex cited by the blood the shark pursued them to the edge of the coral.

Three miles from the village, Terongo lost consciousness long before his cotn panions, paddling furiously, could reach the settlement. There one of the Suva trained Native Medical Practitioners was able not only to save his life, but to make such a good job that there is every possibility of Terongo regaining the partial use of his arm.