Shark attacks - survival rate

[miketsp]

I think few Americans realise how fortunate they are living in a country where the emergency services function well.
I have just been reading an article in a Brazilian magazine (Veja) about shark attack survival rates.
This is the table that was published:

Shark Attacks 1990 - 2003


...............Attacks..Deaths..Fatality %
Florida........311..........3......1%
California......30..........1......3%
Hawaii..........49..........3......6%
South Africa....63.........13.....12%
Pernambuco......39.........13.....33%


Pernambuco is in northeast Brazil and is one of my favourite dive locations.
The article makes it clear that what affects survival chances in the case of a shark attack is the response time and efficiency of the rescue - ie resources and infrastructure.

 

[junior diver]

You are less likely to be bitten in a un-provoked attack while diving then you are winning the lottery. Also alot of bright, different colors on different items of gear will make you look very tasty to a shark... Just thought I'd share.

 

[Don Burke]

I think few Americans realise how fortunate they are living in a country where the emergency services function well.

I realize it every time I get my real estate tax bill.

You get what you pay for.

 

[Daryl Morse]

I agree the quality of the medical system plays a significant role in the survival from a shark attack, and there is no doubt that the medical system in Brazil falls far short of the systems in First World nations, particularly outside the big cities. (I've travelled many times to Brazil on business so I feel I can make this claim with at least some first-hand knowledge.)

The factor the table ignores is what kind of shark is involved. The shark attacks in South Africa are much more likely to be Great White than those in Florida, so I would expect a lower survival rate. I would much rather meet any kind of shark before a Great White. The table would be much more useful if there was some elaboration on this issue.

 

[coreypenrose]

LOL...we just had a poor ab diver out here lose his head to a GWS. I don't think quality of the medical system would have made much difference to this unlucky gentlman.

 

[drbill]

Daryl Morse raises a good point re: what kind of shark was involved. I was thinking the same thing as I read the table. However, one might compare the Calif. stats with those from South Africa because it is quite lucky GWS were involved in both areas.

Doc

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

well lets see the kind of shark makes a big diffrence also the time and location , ie surf less likly to be GW as they love to hit there pray from beneath rather than from side like most sandtigers and leapords shark, and bulls on ohter hand are just plan mean believe it or not they are just as dangious as GW .

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Well the ab diver in CA wasn't one of the lucky ones earlier this week. Body was recovered headless. People on the boat witnessed the attack.

 

[miketsp]

The factor the table ignores is what kind of shark is involved. The shark attacks in South Africa are much more likely to be Great White than those in Florida, so I would expect a lower survival rate. I would much rather meet any kind of shark before a Great White. The table would be much more useful if there was some elaboration on this issue.

Well, of the 400(approx) species of sharks, some 88 frequent the Brazilian coast. Non-provoked attacks have only been registered by about 15 species. The most dangerous are the Tiger("Tigre/Tintureiro"=Galeocerdo Cuvier avg 4m/450kg) Shark and the Bull Shark ("Cabeça-Chata"=Carcharhinus leucas. Max size: 3,5m e 230 Kg).

Others considered dangerous here are the Mako (Isurus Oxyrinchus avg 2.7m/200kg), Black-Tip (Carcharhinus Brevipinna avg 1.8m/45kg) and the White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias from 2.5m to 5m and 200kg to 1100kg or even bigger).

I also found a statistic for attacks from 1920 up to 1995 in Brazil:
21 surfers
21 bathers
5 fishermen
5 undetermined
3 divers
2 shipwrecked swimmers
1 boat

 

[ScubaCollin]

Youre discluding the fact that alot of the shark attacks in America are of a smaller species of shark. Has nothing to do with medical care. In florida you get alot of little bites (some smaller than dog bites). In south africa you have great whites, I dont care what medical care you have. A great white attack has a high chance of being fatal.