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Tooth Shark, South Africa Photographic Print
Bernhard, Tobias
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Small
Fish Swim Along with a Whale Shark, Rhincodon Typus Wall Mural
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World's
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Outer Banks from Space ©Spaceshots Art Print
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Attack Along the Askins Creek area of South Avon
Labor Day Shark Attack
On that tragic day, vacationers Sergei Zaloukaev, 28 and his girlfriend Natalia Slobodskaya, both Russian emigrants living in Oakton, Virginia were wading in the ocean near the Askins Creek area of South Avon, North Carolina. Suddenly, at 6 pm, the two were attacked by a shark in waist deep water only 25 feet from shore, according to friends vacationing with the couple.
Natalia later told investigators the shark attacked them multiple times during the two minutes they struggled to make their way back to shore. During the attacks, the shark bit into Sergei’s left leg, ripping flesh and severing the leg just below the knee. Natalia’s first wound came as she tried to push the shark away with her arms. The shark bit into her left wrist and hand, severing her middle finger. As the couple fought to reach the safety of shore, the shark attacked them from behind and swam between Natalia’s legs. Natalia later recounted the sensation of the shark as it brushed against her during the attack. "It was rough, it was disgusting, you know, the skin of a beast."
After the couple reached shore, Sergei bled to death on the beach waiting for the emergency squad to arrive. An autopsy would later reveal his death was caused by massive blood loss from a torn artery in his leg.
Natalia was airlifted to a hospital in Norfolk Virginia. She had lost a finger, her left foot and most of her left buttock to the attacking shark. She had months of surgeries and rehabilitation in her future.
Officials on the Outer Banks were unsure how many sharks were involved in the attack and no shark teeth were found in the victims, making identification of the type of shark involved difficult if not impossible. Officials with the National Park Service reported that Hammerhead, Tiger, Reef, Blue and Bull Sharks were frequent visitors to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches and may have been responsible for the attack. In addition, Great White Sharks (see below) have been seen in the area.
Scared Bull Shark Trying to flee from his Tormentor
