hmm.. and I am taking off 6 months later this year just to Kite Surf..
in Cape Town...

:roll: ---

Cape Town - A Lakeside teenager was fighting for his life on Monday night after being badly bitten by a Great White shark off a Muizenberg beach earlier in the day.

John-Paul "JP" Andrew, 16, was attacked about 14:00 at Surfers' Corner while surfing with a group of friends.

"JP" lost his right leg in the attack. His surfboard was bitten in half.

A fellow surfer pulled "JP" to safety and, within minutes, seven lifesavers were with them.

Everything was done to keep "JP" alive, while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

According to Nick Reyneke of SA Life Savers, "JP" lost consciousness five times while being taken to hospital. Each time, paramedics were able to bring him around.

Grant Kirkland, 28, was also out surfing when the attack took place. He heard "JP" scream and went to his aid.

Swimmer saw two shark fins

"I was near him and saw a white wave with the boy being pulled along with it. Someone screamed: 'There's a shark.'

"I went to him and saw his leg was off. I pulled him on to my board and went in. By that time, the shark was gone," he said.

Kirkland calmed "JP" down, but the teenager lost consciousness when they reached the shore.

Another swimmer said he saw two shark fins.

"I saw it close in on "JP". It happened very fast. There wasn't much blood," he said.

Two weeks ago, a swimming competition for divers at Simon's Town naval base was cancelled after a Great White shark was spotted in the vicinity.

Reyneke said on Monday a ban on swimming had been imposed and a helicopter would patrol the shoreline to determine when it would be safe for bathers.

Had no pulse at one stage

Late on Monday afternoon, the teenager's father, Robert Andrew, told Die Burger newspaper, the family was grateful he was still alive.

According to a Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic spokesperson, "JP" was in a stable, but critical, condition last night.

Angelo Plaatjies, the area manager for Rescue SA, said lifesavers battled for 20 to 25 minutes to keep "JP" alive while waiting for paramedics.

He said the teenager had had no pulse and was not breathing. He had also been bleeding profusely.

Edited by Iaine Harper

Thank goodness the wind hasn't been that great since the attack... I'm already paranoid every time I go out here. Trying new stuff and loosing your board in the deep is not an option. Oh how I miss Christchurch's smooth wind and shark "free" waters... give me poo any day!

Sue drive up to Langebaan.
45 min from CT.
You will find flat water were you can cruse around.
They also dont allow sharks there.. a bit like Christchurch.
You might feel like you are at home and can continue to loose your board etc with out having to be paranoid.

Hey Madness - last text I got from Su was the wind was looking on at Langebaan and she was driving up to check things out. She has been trying to get up there for the last couple of weeks...

No doubt what wind she gets it will be better than the COLD S we currently have in Ch-ch!

DK