Florida Diver Killed By Shark
John Appel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locshark10041002apr10.story?co
ll=orl%2Dnews%2Dheadlines%2Dlocal
Report says diver was killed by shark
GAINESVILLE -- The death of an expert diver off Pompano Beach in September
is officially classified as a drowning, but the International Shark Attack
File now calls it the only fatal shark attack in Florida last year.
Eric Reichardt never resurfaced after a dive to a wrecked freighter in
nearly 300 feet of water. His body was found four days later. His right arm
and right leg had been torn off, and his wet suit was in shreds. After an
autopsy, the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office declared Reichardt's
death a drowning.
George Burgess, a researcher and director of the shark file, said Tuesday
that Reichardt probably drowned while under attack by a shark.
Burgess said Reichardt, 42, may have lost his regulator in the attack, which
came as he dove to explore the wreck of the Ronald B. Johnson, a freighter
sunk off the Fort Lauderdale area as part of an artificial-reef program.
He said the main evidence of a shark death was the hemorrhaging from
Reichardt's left thigh.
"There's ample evidence that this was a shark," Burgess said.
Dr. Joshua Perper, the Broward medical examiner, said Tuesday he doesn't
know whether a shark contributed to Reichardt's death.
"There is some evidence that points to evidence of a shark attack, but we
did not know it for sure," Perper said.
Burgess said it's likely that Reichardt, who was experienced in such deep
dives, was attacked by a bull or tiger shark, at least 6 feet long.
"We've talked to some folks who have seen some monsters down there," Burgess
said.
The first bite was probably to his left thigh. At this point, his regulator
may have fallen out of his mouth, causing him to drown.
The bites to the torso, arms and legs came afterward, either from the first
shark or from others, Burgess said.
Worldwide, there were five fatal shark attacks in 2001, down from 12 in
2000, according to the shark files. Two were in Africa, and three were in
the United States -- one each in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.
Florida also had 37 of the 62 unprovoked, nonfatal attacks in the United
States last year.
Within Florida, Volusia County had the most attacks with 22.
--
John
=================
~There's nothing you can learn from the manual that can't
be learned with a six-pack and a set of screwdrivers~
A.Malhotra
John Appel wrote:
>
> From the Orlando, Fla., Sentinel:
> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locshark10041002apr10.story?co
> ll=orl%2Dnews%2Dheadlines%2Dlocal
>
> Report says diver was killed by shark
>
> GAINESVILLE -- The death of an expert diver off Pompano Beach in September
> is officially classified as a drowning, but the International Shark Attack
> File now calls it the only fatal shark attack in Florida last year.
>
> Eric Reichardt never resurfaced after a dive to a wrecked freighter in
> nearly 300 feet of water. His body was found four days later. His right arm
> and right leg had been torn off, and his wet suit was in shreds. After an
> autopsy, the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office declared Reichardt's
> death a drowning.
>
What did his buddy say? Or was he diving to 300 ft alone? In which case....
Anita
Lee Bell
> What did his buddy say? Or was he diving to 300 ft alone? In which
case....
There were two divers, but they weren't buddies.
Don Wojciechowski
than with someone who can't handle an emergency due to inexperience or
panic attacks. Then 2 divers drown instead of one. The only reason for
the "buddy system" today is that in case of a shark attack, there is a
50/50 chance they may get him/her.
Lee Bell
> Don't need a "bad" buddy! Facts have shown you're better off by yourself
> than with someone who can't handle an emergency due to inexperience or
> panic attacks. Then 2 divers drown instead of one. The only reason for
> the "buddy system" today is that in case of a shark attack, there is a
> 50/50 chance they may get him/her.
Share your source for facts. Others have concluded differently. For what
it's worth, the other diver was equally, perhaps even more experienced and
was also on a rebreather. The first accident report I read, the source of
much controversy on TechDiver, was his.
Lee
Jason O'Rourke
>Don't need a "bad" buddy! Facts have shown you're better off by yourself
>than with someone who can't handle an emergency due to inexperience or
>panic attacks. Then 2 divers drown instead of one. The only reason for
>the "buddy system" today is that in case of a shark attack, there is a
>50/50 chance they may get him/her.
The safety gained by having a buddy is far greater than 50/50. Predators
prefer solo targets. And victims do a lot better with a buddy to help them
to shore, one reason why white shark attacks are so rarely fatal in California.
--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com