This time it was right smack bang in Sydney Harbour where a Navy diver got attacked by a bull shark.
Able Seaman Paul Degelder, 31, of the clearance diving team based at HMAS Penguin at Balmoral, is in a serious but stable condition following the attack at Woolloomooloo Bay, in Sydney's inner east, just before 7am today.
A NSW ambulance spokesman said he suffered severe injuries to his right hand and leg and is serious but stable in St Vincents Hospital.
Able Seaman Degelder was taking part in the Kondari Trial, a test of new technologies to protect ports and ships from terrorist attack, which began on Monday.
A spokesman for the Defence Science and Technology Organisation said it was likely the trial would be cancelled today.
A defence spokesman said it was the first recorded attack on a navy clearance diver.
He said no shark repellent equipment was used as the equipment was only used in water deemed to be a high risk of shark attack.
Sydney Harbour had been assessed as being low risk, he said.
There was also no sonar equipment being used.
The spokesman said the attack would be subject to an investigation.
Hmmm. As long time readers know it's been this blog's contention that shark attacks are a lot more prevalent and frequent than common wisdom had led us to presume. I've certainly been dissuaded of the notion that only a few peopledie in shark attacks, decades apart. It's not true. It's more like a couple a year, with 4-5 attacks a season. So far we've seen about 4 attacks this summer without any deaths, which is very lucky. I would hve expected a death by now.
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