"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." Northwoods is a ministry dedicated to refreshing Christians and challenging them to search for the truth in Christianity, politics, sociology, and science
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A 57-year-old man has died after being bitten by what officials are calling a “large shark,” while surfing at Long Reef Beach north of Sydney, Australia, police confirmed Saturday. Photo by Dean Lewins/EPA-EFE
Sept. 6 (UPI) --A man has died after being bitten by what officials are calling a "large shark," off a beach in Sydney, Australia, police confirmed Saturday.
The man's surfboard was bitten in two during the attack, which happened around 10 a.m. AEST at Long Reef Beach, a popular surfing location north of Sydney.
The man, identified by the Sydney Morning Herald as Mercury Psillakis, suffered critical injuries, losing both of his legs. Officials said he died at the scene.
Witnesses estimated the shark to be almost 20 feet in length and occurred some 320 feet from shore.
"Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command have closed the beach and will liaise with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved," the New South Wales Police said in a statement.
"Two sections of a surfboard have been recovered and taken for expert examination."
The beach was heavily populated with surfers at the time of the shark attack, which happened a day before Father's Day in Australia.
Psillakis was a father and well-known member of the local surfer community, local media reported.
Shark attacks are commonplace in Australia, with the country experiencing on average around 10 injuries and 2.8 deaths per year attributed to sharks over the last decade, according to data from the Taronga Conservation Society.
Over 90% of all shark bite incidents in Australia involve White Sharks, Bull Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Wobbegongs and other whaler sharks, according to the society.
Long Reef Beach falls under the New South Wales Shark Management Program, a collection of nets and drumlines, drones and other measures meant to keep the animals from attacking humans.
Animal researchers from New Zealand have shared video of a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter betweena shark and an octopus. While flying their drone over the Hauraki Gulf, the team’s drone captured footage ofa Maori octopus riding on the back of the fastest shark alive: the shortfin mako.===================================================================================SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL
A file photo of Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Getty Images The family ofa tourist who was seriously injuredwhen she was bitten while trying to “engage” with a shark inTurks and Caicosis now speaking out about the horrifying moment that “completely altered” the Canadian woman’s life.
The 55-year-old Canadian tourist, who remains unnamed, attempted to “engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs” on Friday, Feb. 7, according to a press release from the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) last week.
The victim’s brother-in-law, Al Chevarie, has set up a GoFundMe page to financially help the woman and her husband, Ralph Chevarie, following the incident.
“While on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, my sister-in-law and her husband, my brother, lived what can only be described as a nightmare,” Al began his post on the fundraising page.
He said his brother and sister-in-law were in “only hip deep clear water” when a “seven-foot bull shark came at my sister-in-law and bumped into her legs.”
“The shark then circled around and bit her thigh. Not satisfied, the shark came back again and when she put both hands in front of her to protect herself, the shark cut off both of her hands, one at mid forearm and the other at the wrist,” he wrote.
Photo from the GoFundMe for woman involved in shark encounter in Turks and Caicos. Al Chevarie / GoFundMe
Chevarie said his brother rushed back to help her and “managed to wrestle away the shark and stayed between her and the shark until she walked out of the water and collapsed on the beach.”
The Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources originally shared that the incident took place in Blue Hills, Providenciales, on Friday, Feb. 7, and the victim was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she was stabilized and transported off the island for further medical attention.
Chevarie said his sister-in-law was taken to a local hospital for initial treatment “but had to be flown back to Canada by air ambulance to undergo further surgery and recovery.”
“My brother served our country in the Canadian Armed forces for over 30 years with tours in Kuwait, twice in Afghanistan, Golan Heights, Haiti and Bosnia. He served our country with pride; it’s our turn to help them,” Chevarie wrote. “This is something that has completely altered their life in the blink of an eye. I ask, if you can, to please help them; they will need a lot of support to get through this. Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated.”
The GoFundMe post has currently raised over $24,600 of its goal of $35,000 from 309 donations as of Tuesday morning.
1:58
How to avoid shark attacks, according to experts
The Turks and Caicos government had previously said that the shark was approximately six feet in length, and did not identify the specific species.
Government officials closed the beach following the incident and reopened it to the public Sunday, Feb. 9, “after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water.”
The government didn’t share further details of the tourist’s interaction with the shark but did issue a warning to others swimming in the area.
“The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life. Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances,” the post read.
The 55-year-old tourist attempted to “engage with the animal from the shallows in an attempt to take photographs,” according to a press release from the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR).
The incident took place in Blue Hills, Providenciales, on Friday, Feb. 7, and the victim was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she was stabilized and transported off the island for further medical attention. She is expected to survive.
The woman’s identity has not been released, but several tabloids report that the tourist is believed to be a Canadian national. Global News reached out to Global Affairs Canada, who did not confirm if the person is Canadian, saying they were aware of reports of an “accident.”
“Global Affairs Canada is aware of reports of a Canadian citizen who experienced an accident in Turks and Caicos. Consular officials are contacting local authorities to gather information and stand-ready to provide consular assistance. Due to privacy considerations, no further details may be disclosed,” they said in a statement to Global News.
“The shark was estimated to be approximately 6 [feet] in length. However the species is yet to be confirmed,” the government added in the report.
Government officials closed the beach following the incident and reopened it to the public Sunday, Feb. 9, “after it was determined that the shark had moved to deeper water.”
The government didn’t share details of the tourist’s interaction with the shark but did issue a warning to others swimming in the area.
“The DECR would like to urge the public to always be aware of your surroundings, follow local advisories, and respect marine life. Swim in designated areas, avoid murky waters, never swim alone, and do not attempt to feed marine wildlife under any circumstances,” the post read.
The incident comes after two American tourists were bitten by a shark in the Bahamas earlier this week. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said police in Bimini are investigating after two women were victims of a shark attack and needed to be airlifted for their injuries.
“Initial reports indicate that the victims, both U.S.A. residents, sustained injuries while swimming in the waters at Bimini Bay. They received initial treatment at a local clinic before being airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention. One of the victim’s injuries is listed as serious,” police said.
Rileigh Decker, 20, and Summer Layman, 24, spoke with NBC News after returning to Florida and shared the harrowing details from hospital beds. They said they had jumped off their friend’s yacht and soon after, the shark approached.
“We’re just very grateful to still be here with all of our limbs,” Decker told NBC’s Today show earlier this week.
Decker said after they jumped into the ocean she “felt something nudge my leg.”
“I was like, ‘Summer, what was that?’ And she was like, ‘Don’t scare me like that.’ And probably about two minutes later, we were right by the ladder. I felt my leg get tugged down, and I immediately knew I was bit by a shark,” Decker recalled.
They said their friends immediately pulled them out of the water and wrapped a tourniquet around Decker’s right leg. Shortly after, they realized Layman was also suffering from a shark bite.
“They yelled to me that the top of my foot was shredded, and I just hadn’t realized until I looked down,” Layman said.
Decker was airlifted to a hospital in the Bahamas and once they were both stable, they were flown back to Florida for Decker to undergo surgery.
Great white decapitates diver in first fatal shark attack of 2023: report
By Ben Cost, NYPost
January 27, 2023 4:56pm Updated
A 19-foot great white shark reportedly killed fisherman Manual Lopez this month in Mexico.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
A 19-foot great white shark decapitated a diver this month as he harvested shellfish off Mexico, reportedly marking the first fatal shark attack of the year.
The horrific tragedy occurred Jan. 5 while Manuel Lopez, 53, was gathering ax tripe — a type of mollusk — in Tobari Bay in Benito Juárez, Sonora, Tracking Sharks reported. He was said to have been diving to the ocean floor without an oxygen tank to nab the critters, which typically reside at depths of 36 to 59 feet.
Lopez’s shellfishing expedition was cut short when the shark bit his head clean off, according to Tracking Sharks.
“He was diving when the animal attacked him, impressively ripping off his head and biting both shoulders,” eyewitness Jose Bernal told the outlet.
A great white shark named Brutus is shown off Guadalupe Island in Mexico on Nov. 29, 2021.
ZUMAPRESS.com
The attack follows an increase in local shark sightings that have area fishermen on high alert. “Local divers had been warned about the presence of sharks in the area, and most had not been out for several days,” said Bernal.
However, Lopez, who was reportedly in need of money, saw an opportunity to make a killing due to the shellfish shortage. He allegedly decided to ignore the warnings and embark on what would be his final fishing trip.
It’s unclear what prompted the apex predator to attack, however, the shark could’ve been attracted to the turbulence and sounds generated by Lopez while he was harvesting mollusks, Tracking Sharks reported.
Humans are also often mistaken for seals while wearing wetsuits, which can prompt sharks to take “experimental” bites. And while the creatures generally move on after realizing the victim isn’t their preferred prey, this exploratory nibble can prove catastrophic due to the shark’s rows of serrated, meat-shearing teeth.
Divers are more likely to be mistaken for seals come December and January, when great white sharks are most prevalent in the Gulf of California, Tracking Sharks noted. Pregnant female sharks are said to be searching for fat-filled sea lions during that time.
Being a fan of the Vancouver Canucks requires two dominant characteristics: humility, and a sense of humour, if not a sense of the absurd.
Vancouver Canucks fan has last word on NHL team’s legacy of losing
CAMPBELL RIVER STAFF
Jan. 26, 2023 10:30 a.m.
Vancouver Canucks goalie Collin Delia (60) is scored on by Edmonton Oilers’ Tyson Barrie (22) as Dylan Holloway (55) watches the puck go in the net during second period preseason action in Edmonton on Monday, October 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Russell George Atkins was a Vancouver Canucks fan until the very end.
Unfortunately, being a fan of the NHL team means being disappointed all your life – three trips to the Stanley Cup finals in 52 years (and most likely 53) and no Stanley Cups.
A memorial for Atkins was placed on the Campbell River Mirror’s website Jan. 13 and concluded with the ultimate epitaph for the sadsack team which in recent weeks has piled more embarrassment on a rich legacy of disappointment with the very public firing of fan-favourite coach Bruce Boudreau during another losing season.
The loving tribute to Atkins concluded with a reflection of his unending wait for the ultimate hockey prize for his favourite team:
“Russell would’ve liked to have had 6 of the Vancouver Canucks to be his pallbearers so they could have let him down one more time.”
More than a dozen people vanished two weeks ago after following a woman into the Andes Mountains when she told them she received a revelation from the Virgin Mary
By ADRY TORRES FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 17:09 EDT, 7 September 2022 |
Up to 20 people, including five children, remain missing in Venezuela after going on a spiritual retreat led by a woman who says the Virgin Mary told her the world was about to end.
Rosa GarcÃa, 57, is said to have initially persuaded as many as 40 people in the Táchira town of La Grita to join on her trip to Juan Pablo Peñaloza National Park on August 22, according to La Nacion newspaper.
They were expected to return Thursday and were reported missing later that day after they failed to show up at their homes.
Authorities in Venezuela are searching for more than a dozen people who have been reported missing
after a 57-year-old woman in La Grita, Táchira convinced them to join her on a spiritual retreat.
She apparently told her followers that the Virgin Mary told her the world was about to end
Some of the individuals dropped out of the group when GarcÃa started behaving erratically, La Nacion reported.
GarcÃa instructed the group that they could no longer worship the Holy Christ of La Grita, that they were not to look the Virgin Mary in the eyes and that they were to discard their cellular phones.
Authorities said Wednesday that nine of the individuals missing are from the same family and that the group is traveling in two vehicles.
La Grita Mayor Juan Carlos Escalante said that 160 members from a search and rescue team and law enforcement agencies were looking for the group. Drones and sniffer dogs were also deployed as part of a wider search.
The mountainous town of La Grita sits 4,725 feet above sea level.
On Monday, authorities discovered an abandoned farm where some of the people who are still unaccounted for discarded several clothing items and left food behind.
Locals said GarcÃa dropped out of a neighborhood prayer group and formed her own, called 'Following Jesus.' The group would frequently get together to hold prayer sessions for people battling illnesses.
Others recalled that GarcÃa's group 'switched from religious practices to fanaticism' and noticed that group members 'spent their time beating their chests' while promoting their religious ideas.
Some said that GarcÃa's family thought she was mentally unstable.
'She sent people to confession, to go to mass and to pray,' a resident told La Nacion. 'She said that many bad things were coming, that Christ cried tears of blood for what we all do. That the world was going to end.'
Since March, none of the group members were allowed to watch television and had to start praying at 3am every day, digital news outlet Impacto Venezuela reported. Women were also urged not to do their hair and could not show their faces when they left their homes.
During a mass held Sunday at the La Grita Minor Basilica of the Holy Spirit, Father Jesús Mora warned the congregation to be aware of people like GarcÃa who could do more harm than good.
'You have to be afraid of fanatics, because a fanatic can do a lot of damage,' Mora said. 'God doesn't want us to be fanatics.'
GarcÃa is not married and administered her own station at a food stand owned by her sister Teresa GarcÃa - one of her 13 siblings.
She allegedly was able to influence Teresa to join the retreat along with her husband, two children, son-in-law and grandson.
Horrifying moment banker catches tiger shark with human remains
inside the beast’s stomach after foot pops out
Katie Davis
10:55, 8 Sep 2022
A BANKER was horrified after realising the tiger shark he had caught had human remains inside its belly after the beast coughed up a foot.
Humphrey Simmons was fishing in waters off the Bahamas with pals when he snared the "unusually heavy" 12-foot predator.
Authorities found the remains of a man inside the shark - except his head
But as Simmons went to cut the hook from the shark's jaws, a human foot suddenly popped out, The Tribune reported.
He said: "We were going to cut the hook out of his mouth and let him go when he regurgitated a human foot. Everything was intact from the knee down. It was mangled, but there was still flesh on the bone."
The stunned fishermen - fearing there may be more bodies inside - took the shark to shore in Nassau and it was cut open. Inside, disgusted authorities found the severed remains of a man - minus his head.
The shark had regurgitated the man's left leg, and his right leg, two arms and two - split in two - were found in its stomach.
Forensic examiners completed DNA tests on the mutilated body parts, confirming the remains appeared to be at least a couple of days old.
They could not say for sure whether the man was dead or alive when eaten by the beast.
Considering that his head was not present, my guess is that he was not alive at the time. That was one greedy shark - so full from the man it swallowed and yet it took the bait from the banker-fisherman.
