White Pointer eats swimmer at Cottesloe beach WA

Shark kills bather yards from family beach

 By Barbie Dutter in Sydney

12:00AM GMT 07 Nov 2000

A SWIMMER was killed yesterday in an attack by a 19ft great white shark as more than 100 people looked on from one of Western Australia's most popular family beaches.

Attacked: Kenneth Crew had his leg bitten off in waist-deep water

Kenneth Crew, 49, a father of three, was having his customary early morning dip with a group of friends off Cottesloe Beach, near Perth, when the shark struck in waist-deep water a few yards from the shore. Witnesses to Australia's third fatal shark attack within six weeks described how a huge fin was spotted circling Mr Crew for several minutes while he flailed his arms.

Mr Crew, a businessman, whose leg was bitten off, was brought ashore and died soon afterwards in the arms of a Catholic priest, his friend Fr Brian Morrison. A second man was also attacked after swimming out and punching the shark's body in an effort to save Mr Crew. Dirk Avery, 52, received deep cuts to his right leg and foot.

Fr Morrison said: "I was in the cafe, and heard the shout, 'Shark attack'. I looked up and saw a very large fin and a man with flailing arms. I raced to the beach and noticed a huge number of people gathered. Some went out into the water - two in particular tried to push the shark away - while others took hold of Ken and brought him to shore.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/1373613/Shark-kills-bather-yards-from-family-beach.html