Northern Beaches WebMan

I was informed on ABC radio regarding the shark attack in Mona Vale, Northern Beaches. Intantly alarmed and interested in the story, I intently listened to the interview. ABC radio presenter Deborah Cameron conducted the interview with Michael Brown, the director of Surf Watch Australia. Michael was apparently an ‘eye witness’ of what happened in the shark attack, retelling the morning events.

Some of Michael Brown quotes include:

We were just having a bit of a swim and all of a sudden we looked sideways and there was all this thrashing going on in the water

I could see a guy, he was out there just having a bit of a surf and it looks like a great white has come in underneath him, shot straight up, hit him like a freight train, knocked him up out of the water

I saw a bit of the tail, which looked like a [great] white

Wow, what a news story!!!!

The Shark Attack details that were released later that day…

The so called victim of this shark attack was Paul Welsh. He was rush to hospital and the teeth were later identified by a tooth fragment as a 1.6 metre wobbegong.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said: ‘‘It is quite possible the man stood on or spooked the shark. This shark is not aggressive and is not known to attack humans.”

My Michael Brown… what about the: thrashing, Great White Shark coming from underneath him, frieght train, the tail that looked like a Great White.

Are you serious Michael Brown?

Facts and figures:

• Typically Wobbegong sharks grow to 1.25 metres
• Wobbegong shark tails are vastly different (as per picture)
• Wobbegong sharks do not come underneath him like a freight train

Typically, this is just another media frensie regarding shark attacks, sensationalise the story for the sake of greed and making a name for themselves. Not surprisingly some more interesting facts:

Paul Welsch has already sold his story to Channel Nine News by the time his wife had driven him to hospital

Michael Brown is the director of an organisation that patrols for sharks and charges people for helicopter joyrides.

Way to go guys, good way of making some coin for yourselves. (i’m being extremely sarcastic)

Comments Welcome

WebMan, Northern Beaches Sydney