A a 62-year-old fisherman from Plettenberg Bay was bitten by a shark while attempting to release it after catching it on a fishing line. The incident took place at Papiesfontein, northeast of Jeffreys Bay, on Friday.

The man and his friend were engaged in shoreline angling as part of their preparations for an angling competition when he successfully landed a Ragged Tooth shark. While trying to free the shark from the fishing gear, he was bitten by the shark.

Upon receiving an urgent assistance request, the NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew promptly responded. They were joined by EC Government Health EMS, Gardmed ambulance services, and Relay ambulance services.

When the rescue team arrived at the scene, the man’s friend had already applied tourniquets to the injuries, including lacerations and puncture wounds on the man’s hand and calf.

The injured fisherman was transported to the hospital by a Gardmed ambulance in a stable condition. He is currently receiving ongoing medical treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.