A South Africa man ignored warnings that three great white sharks had been spotted off the beach and decided to go for a swim. That decision cost him a leg, and nearly his life.
Michael Cohen, a 43-year-old Briton, was in a stable condition in a Cape Town hospital after a shark bit off his right leg and part of his left leg. The incident took place last week at Fish Hoek Bay near Capt Town.
Authorities said it was not the first time Cohen had ignored shark warnings.
"They have spoken to him on previous occasions as well, but he still goes and swims," National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon told television station News 24. "We were told repeatedly by the shark spotters on the scene that they physically told [Cohen] not to enter the water," Lambinon said.
Witnesses said the shark approached Cohen from behind, seized him in its jaws, shook him twice and then released him. Cohen was pulled from the water by two Good Samaritans.
"Without hesitation, the two men kicked off their shoes, plunged into the water and waded through the surf to reach the injured swimmer," Lambinon told News 24.
The Good Samaritans were identified as Douglas Drysdale, 61, of Glencairn Heights, and Hugh Till, 66, of Fish Hoek.
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