> From: "Matt Broze" <mkayaks_at_oz.net> > Kevin wrote: > <SNIP>>>>> By > virtue of the size, 16 to 20 feet we may have a slight advantage but I'm > reminded of the story of a double found off Monterey, CA with no occupants > and a VERY large shark bite. When? what? no one knows but it is a spooky > tale around the campfire.<<<<<<SNIP> > > I don't think I've heard of this one. I'm wondering if it isn't really a > mis-retelling and combining of other incidents, I think you are right. > fiberglass sit-on-top kayaks were missing off of Santa Barbara. One kayak > was found with the bottom caved in (the other was tied to it). The woman's > body was found with numerous small shark bites on it obscuring one larger > bite to the extent that the species of shark that had made it was not > identifiable. The man was never found. Speculation was that they had been > attacked by a shark but since no one saw what happened we can't be sure of > that. Actually, they (Tamara McAllister and Roy Stoddard) started off from Malibu. It was January, warm air temps but cold water. Both were dressed for warm air temps (shorts, t-shirts, etc). They were not dressed to fend off sea kayakers' number one killer... hypothermia. One of the kayaks had a small leak and had been previously repaired. January is whale migrating season along California's southern coast and when many kayakers will take off for Point Dume to spot whales. Two seasoned kayakers, one of whom, I believe, still runs a local kayaking business (Southwind Kayaks) and the other guides trips on the Kern, were contacted for their opinions after McAllister's body and the two kayaks were found. Their opinions were that it was more likely that a breaching whale broke one of the kayaks. They did not see anything that looked like teeth marks on the kayaks. Stoddard was a wiry fellow described as 6' 1" tall and weighing 135 lbs. Very athletic. Coastguard said he would probably sink like a rock if drowned. Tamara McAllister's body was found floating up the coast but I don't think it was as far as Santa Barbara. The kayaks were found floating, still tied together, north of the intended day trip, one kayak was damaged. I exchanged email with Dr. George Burgess regarding this incident some years ago trying to understand why it was included in the shark attack files as shark attack statistics since there were no witnesses and one body was never recovered (Dr. Burgess maintains the international shark attack files at the University of Florida and is the individual you most often see being interviewed whenever there is a shark attack report on the news). I also asked if he had any recommendations for sea kayakers regarding what they might do to avoid shark encounters of the unwanted kind. Other than suggesting staying out of the water, his comments were... (I still have the emails): Use a white kayak as it is less likely to be visible to sharks below the water line and more easily spotted from above by rescuers. Painting stripes on the bottom of the kayak to break up the form might be helpful. Tamara McAllister (the only body recovered) had obvious shark bites and scrapes on her hands that resembled scrapes suffered by other shark attack victims. McAllister had no water in her lungs indicating that she was not drowned. I reminded Dr. Burgess that the two kayaks that were alleged to have been the target of the attack were both white. His reply was that it was too small an incident-number to reach any conclusions. I also informed Dr. Burgess that S&R has stated that white was one of the most difficult colors to spot on the open ocean as it simply looked like white caps or surf. He had no response to that. I've tried to find out if those who die from hypothermia out on the water also do not show water in the lungs and have not had an answer I consider reliable though some rescue personnel have said it would be possible for there not to be water in the lungs of a hypothermic victim. I have nothing scientifically definitive on that. Having not seen the scrapes on Tamara McAllister's hands described by Dr. Burgess, I cannot say whether or not they could have been made by a hypothermic person during a desperate attempt to climb back into a kayak after falling out. He also mentioned bruising. The largest shark bite on McAllister was 13 inches wide. This does not indicate a shark large enough to swallow a grown man whole. It has been speculated that the shark bites were from blue sharks made after McAllister died from hypothermia. Blue sharks are known for "test" biting objects floating on the water. And there are plenty of blue sharks on the west coast. Finally, the individual that persuaded Dr. Burgess to list this incident in the shark attack files was none other than his good friend and author John McCosker who was just finishing up a book entitled "Great White Sharks." The above incident was added to the book just prior to printing (McCosker received info about the alleged shark attack which occurred while he was putting finishing touches on his book) and made a very grabbing entry with its hypothesis of the two seakayakers out paddling when a great white bumps McAllister's boat, knocks her off, bites her on the thigh, then turns on Stoddard when he comes to her rescue and swallows him whole. A real eye-catching last-minute entry for a major book on great whites, don't you think? Cheers, Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Aug 07 2002 - 18:11:45 PDT
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