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California Shark fatalities- some reminiscing
In 1952 the California F& G began keeping records of shark attacks of California coast. There have been approximately 110 attacks and approximately 10 fatalities. The early fatalities were
1952--Barry Wilson, Monterey Bay
1957 -- Peter Savino, Morro Bay
1959-- Albert Krogler --Baker's Beach, Golden Gate park San Francisco May 7, 1959
1959-- Bob Pamperin, Alligator's head , La Jolla Cove--June 14, 1959
The first two did not receive much publicity, the second two, Krogler and Pamperin did. They occurred in a populated area therefore the fatal attack was witnessed by a number of people.
Krogler was swimming with his girl friend when attacked. She immediately went to his rescue and despite numerous repeated attacks on Krogler--but none on her, swam his lifeless body back to shore where he succumbed do to his massive tissue injuries.
Pamperin was diving near LA Jolla cove for Abalone (yes - in 1959 the cove was covered with Abalone). His companion heard a scream, stuck his head out of the water in time to notice a "large shark" with Bob's body in it's mouth. The shark evidently immediately headed for the deep water of the La Jolla canyon for Bob's body was never recovered. In the ensuing weeks his Abalone Iron was recovered along with his tattered and tooth marked swim trunks (in 1959 the wet suit was only a few years old and seldom worn for a simple Abalone dive.)
Please bear in mind that recreational diving was only a few years old and was just getting a toe hold in the American market which was concentrated in the SoCal counties of LA, Orange, and San Diego with about 95% of all diving mahufactuing companies and the only certifiing agency, LA County UW Instruction. Therefore rumors ran rampant -- most probably planted by the dive industry...Pamperin had been seen in Baja, in Central America, in Europe...there had been a huge accidental death insurance policy etc...In the passing of 50 years Bob is still missing.
It was thought and often discussed that the Krogler and the Pamerin events were only a few weeks apart but over 500 miles distant they were somehow related, but of course never proven.
At that time I was a member of the then very active Los Angeles Council of Diving Clubs, (now the Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers aka GLACD and it is now very inactive.) I was interested and some what qualified as spokesperson, so I and a member of the San Diego council developed a "Green Paper" for the two councils which was distributed to the local shops and clubs. Sadly the individual who co authored the paper with me drowned about a year later free diving near La Jolla cove- the only member of the famed Bottom Scratchers to meet that fate.
There were numerous unrecorded shark attacks before 1950 and has been numerous recorded shark attacks since that time...
1960 Susan Theriot, a sixteen year old on a school outing near Santa Cruz had the dubious distinction of being the first female of the 20th century killed by a shark in California waters.
In August 2003, college instructor Deborah Franzman, 50 was on her morning swim at Avila Beach (near Pismo Beach in Central California) in about 20 feet of water swimming among a pod of playfully seals when she was attacked from below by a Great White. There was a life guard training class on the beach and four very brave life guards immediately came to her rescue, but her wound was too extensive and she passed away on the beach.
I do not recall meeting her but since I was often also an early morning visitor to the same beach probably had crossed paths many times; since she was an instructor at the college were my wife is employed as the senior Vice President we may have met at one of the college social functions.
Prior to the most recent occurrence last week in San Diego, the last fatal attack was in 2004. The very active and popular diver Randy Fry became a victim. He was he was diving from a boat near Fort Bragg in Northern California in about 15 feet of water searching for abalone, Since he was an avid free diver/spear fisherman he was clad in a camo pattern wet suit which was no protection when a Great White shark swooped in biting off his head. His diving companion who witnessed the attack, dropped his weight belt and swam rapidly to the boat and initiated a MayDay call and received immediate assistance for a surface search, but it was not until several days later that Randy's headless body was recovered. I knew Randy via e mail correspondence as a very personal likeable fellow who was very passionate about free diving, spear fishing and conservation. His death hit me hard.
And there will be other shark attacks as water based activities increase in popularity.
The question is when, where, & who...?
Dr. SAM
In 1952 the California F& G began keeping records of shark attacks of California coast. There have been approximately 110 attacks and approximately 10 fatalities. The early fatalities were
1952--Barry Wilson, Monterey Bay
1957 -- Peter Savino, Morro Bay
1959-- Albert Krogler --Baker's Beach, Golden Gate park San Francisco May 7, 1959
1959-- Bob Pamperin, Alligator's head , La Jolla Cove--June 14, 1959
The first two did not receive much publicity, the second two, Krogler and Pamperin did. They occurred in a populated area therefore the fatal attack was witnessed by a number of people.
Krogler was swimming with his girl friend when attacked. She immediately went to his rescue and despite numerous repeated attacks on Krogler--but none on her, swam his lifeless body back to shore where he succumbed do to his massive tissue injuries.
Pamperin was diving near LA Jolla cove for Abalone (yes - in 1959 the cove was covered with Abalone). His companion heard a scream, stuck his head out of the water in time to notice a "large shark" with Bob's body in it's mouth. The shark evidently immediately headed for the deep water of the La Jolla canyon for Bob's body was never recovered. In the ensuing weeks his Abalone Iron was recovered along with his tattered and tooth marked swim trunks (in 1959 the wet suit was only a few years old and seldom worn for a simple Abalone dive.)
Please bear in mind that recreational diving was only a few years old and was just getting a toe hold in the American market which was concentrated in the SoCal counties of LA, Orange, and San Diego with about 95% of all diving mahufactuing companies and the only certifiing agency, LA County UW Instruction. Therefore rumors ran rampant -- most probably planted by the dive industry...Pamperin had been seen in Baja, in Central America, in Europe...there had been a huge accidental death insurance policy etc...In the passing of 50 years Bob is still missing.
It was thought and often discussed that the Krogler and the Pamerin events were only a few weeks apart but over 500 miles distant they were somehow related, but of course never proven.
At that time I was a member of the then very active Los Angeles Council of Diving Clubs, (now the Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers aka GLACD and it is now very inactive.) I was interested and some what qualified as spokesperson, so I and a member of the San Diego council developed a "Green Paper" for the two councils which was distributed to the local shops and clubs. Sadly the individual who co authored the paper with me drowned about a year later free diving near La Jolla cove- the only member of the famed Bottom Scratchers to meet that fate.
There were numerous unrecorded shark attacks before 1950 and has been numerous recorded shark attacks since that time...
1960 Susan Theriot, a sixteen year old on a school outing near Santa Cruz had the dubious distinction of being the first female of the 20th century killed by a shark in California waters.
In August 2003, college instructor Deborah Franzman, 50 was on her morning swim at Avila Beach (near Pismo Beach in Central California) in about 20 feet of water swimming among a pod of playfully seals when she was attacked from below by a Great White. There was a life guard training class on the beach and four very brave life guards immediately came to her rescue, but her wound was too extensive and she passed away on the beach.
I do not recall meeting her but since I was often also an early morning visitor to the same beach probably had crossed paths many times; since she was an instructor at the college were my wife is employed as the senior Vice President we may have met at one of the college social functions.
Prior to the most recent occurrence last week in San Diego, the last fatal attack was in 2004. The very active and popular diver Randy Fry became a victim. He was he was diving from a boat near Fort Bragg in Northern California in about 15 feet of water searching for abalone, Since he was an avid free diver/spear fisherman he was clad in a camo pattern wet suit which was no protection when a Great White shark swooped in biting off his head. His diving companion who witnessed the attack, dropped his weight belt and swam rapidly to the boat and initiated a MayDay call and received immediate assistance for a surface search, but it was not until several days later that Randy's headless body was recovered. I knew Randy via e mail correspondence as a very personal likeable fellow who was very passionate about free diving, spear fishing and conservation. His death hit me hard.
And there will be other shark attacks as water based activities increase in popularity.
The question is when, where, & who...?
Dr. SAM
