A great white shark this week killed champion bodyboarder David Lilienfeld, according to the Independent Online.
The South African athlete was just 20 years old. As of just a few days ago, he was actively posting at his Facebook page, which revealed his bodyboarding skill.
A great white in South Africa's Kogel Bay, east of Cape Town, cut his life short on Thursday, however.
While in the water with his brother and friends, Lilienfeld was approached by a great white shark that onlookers estimated was over 13 feet long. The shark bit off Lilienfeld's right leg, very high up on the thigh, causing heavy bleeding.
Horrified onlookers describe what happened.
Lucille Bester told the Independent Online:
Yusuf George also witnessed the attack.
According to the International Shark Attack File, great whites killed two people in South Africa last year. Lilienfeld's death brings the total number of fatalities from unprovoked shark attacks in that country to 13 since 1876. In general fatalities from shark bites have decreased as more beaches employ shark spotters on the cliffs with bright red flags to alert lifeguards and surfers when a shark is in the water. The total number of people killed by white sharks last year worldwide was 12, the highest yearly total since 1993.
Experts say that sharks, including whites, do not intentionally go after humans. Sharks instead mistake people for other typical prey, such as sea lions, due to the shape of surfboards or the body as seen from below. Often sharks will take a bite, realize their mistake and move on. With improved access to medical facilities nearby, most victims today survive shark attacks. Unfortunately, the bite that Lilienfeld sustained was too severe.
Photos showing Lilienfeld in bodyboarding competitions can be viewed on this page.
