GOLD COAST, Australia (17 Feb 2004) -- THE search for a missing spear fisherman off Tweed Heads was abandoned today as investigators admitted they were no closer to knowing whether he drowned or was taken by a shark. Mark Bryant, 31, of the Gold Coast suburb of Currumbin Waters, failed to surface while spearfishing with two other snorkellers in shark infested waters near Cook Island yesterday. An air and sea search failed to find the man, but his speargun was recovered with a speared fish still attached to its line. Police Inspector Ian Fitzsimmons said Mr Bryant was an experienced spear fisherman. "At this stage we don't know whether he drowned or there's been a shark attack - we can't speculate," he said. Searchers spotted several large tiger sharks in the area. Divers say tiger and whaler sharks are particularly common around the reef at this time of year because of the abundance of fish. Another theory was that Mr Bryant passed out underwater and drowned. | | © Charles Maxwell The Volunteer Marine Rescue Point Danger Association issued an advisory to boats in the area this morning to be on the lookout for any sign of the missing spear fisherman. VMR spokesman John Gnech said sharks generally did not bother visitors to the popular dive spot. "If there are sharks in the area spear fishermen run a much greater risk than an ordinary diver of attracting those sharks," he said. "Naturally sharks are going to be made more aware of your presence with fish being traumatised in the water." SOURCE - Courier-Mail |
