14-Year-Old Girl Dies in Fla. Shark Attack (deja-vu all over again?)

[Danieljay]

Here we go again..the upcoming summer distraction?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050625/ap_on_re_us/shark_attack

SANDESTIN, Fla. - A 14-year-old girl died Saturday after a shark attacked her while she and a companion were swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, authorities said.

One of the swimmers was bitten. It was the lower portions of her body," said Walton County Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Shank. The other swimmer was not injured.

Both girls swam to shore, and the victim was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead, Shank said. The girl was on vacation from Louisiana, but her name was not immediately released.

Oh crap...last time the media had a shark feeding frenzy was just prior to a terrorist attack, sinking economy, and a long Bush summer vacation...anyone remember that summer in 2001?

[Cha]

1. That might hurt the tourista

trade..

http://www.sandestin.com/

[lebkuchen]

5. As if Bush hasn't bellied up US tourist trade already

by attacking 20 million innocent people by saying he's come to "free" them?

[bluestateguy]

2. Shark attacks

Is it September 10, 2001 again?

[dejaboutique]

3. i only wish that sharks were the only news..

I forgot that the summer of sharks was right before 9/11 oh if we could only go back to that summer and change things. feel bad for the girl, I think that would be the most gruesome way to die.

[rodeodance]

4. I wish her family well. How horrible.

[glaucon]

6. 2001 redux, indeed...

Summer of 2001, redux
06/25/05
by Michael Sheridan
http://blog.frumiousblues.net/



President Bush’s poll numbers falling? Check

Missing white girl? Check

Shark attacks? And check:

"A 14-year-old girl died Saturday in a shark attack while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, authorities said.

The incident happened about 11:15 a.m. in front of a campground near the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, near Destin, Florida, according to the South Walton Fire District.

The girl lost a leg in the attack and died afterward, said John Fitch of the fire district.

At the time of the attack, the girl and a friend, also 14, were swimming and using “boogie boards” about 200 to 250 yards offshore, said Lt. Frank Owens of the Walton County Sheriff’s office.

The friend saw the attack and her friend being dragged under, he said.

Beaches in southern Walton County were closed after the attack and will remain closed for at least the rest of the day, Owens told CNN."


I think I’ll stay out of tall buildings for the rest of the year . . .

------------------

[TahitiNut]

7. Fishermen, both pro and amateur, chum the waters all along there.

I've spent time at Gulf Shores and that part of the panhandle and was amazed at how they don't seem to give a shit about attracting sharks. :shrug:

[jobycom]

10. The fisherman will tell you

that the sharks swim about 150 to 200 yards offshore all the time, and rarely come closer. Even when they do, they don't hurt anyone. They don't attack humans too often--they usually go after the stingrays and larger fish. The problems come when people swim 200 yards out, or when they swim when the sun is low in the sky, because the sharks can't tell they are humans, then, because the light is hitting the water at an angle. I've heard them talk about swimming with sharks, and floating on tubes around sharks, and not being bothered by them.

I'm not saying all that's true, I'm just saying that's what they believe, so they don't worry about the chumming.

[alarimer]

12. There is plenty of bait in the water anyway

So I am sure chumming makes no difference.
I have read (but I am not at all sure of the truth of this) that sharks are coming closer to shore because we are overfishing their prey. We are also overfishing sharks too but I guess that's another issue. It is possible that normal seasonal migrations bring them closer to shore.
All that aside, shark attacks are very rare. While this is an unfortunate event, we shouldn't make too big an issue of it.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

8. With all condolences to the family

I am waiting now for the Repubs to propose a constitutional amendment banning sharks from swimming areas..............

[OKthatsIT]

9. Expect more predator type attacks

food shortage in the eco systems

[DemoTex]

11. Damn! That's close to my brother's beach place at Grayton Beach.

Last year we saw a shark in the water in front of Sheryl Crow's beach house (she is a neighbor of my brother). The shark swam back and forth with its dorsal fin out of the water for about 8 hours.

:scared: