Death prompts call

26.08.2010

SURF Life Saving WA would
like all surfers to carry basic
first-aid kits with them and
know about administering
basic first aid.
SLSWA beach services
co-ordinator Matt du Plessis
made the call when a 31-
year-old man recently died
after a shark attack while he
was surfing off Gracetown in
the South-West.
"It'd be a huge benefit if
you have people in the water
that can do basic first aid;
they can respond first and
help until the ambulance arrives,"
Mr du Plessis said.
"Ideally, it would be great
if every surfer along our
coastline had basic first-aid
skills and carried adequate
first-aid kits in their vehicles
or packs.
"Even under these circumstances,
dealing with a
major trauma often requires
more advanced equipment
or training."
SLSWA advises people always
to take someone with
them if heading to the beach
and avoid swimming or surfing
after dusk.
Mr du Plessis, who has
surfed for 20 years, including
in South Africa, said
that he wanted to remind
people that although the
young man's death at
Gracetown was tragic, the
frequency of shark attacks
was low compared with the
number of people who
drowned.
He advised people to
avoid swimming or surfing:

• In or near murky or silt-laden waters.
• Alone.
• While bleeding.
• Near schools of fish.