The great white may have mistaken the triathlete for a seal or sea lion
By icyorchid
@icyorchid (2564)
United States
April 25, 2008 11:34pm CST
Two women console one another after viewing the body of a 66-year old swimmer who was killed by a shark while training with a group of triathletes off the coast in Solana Beach, Calif. on Friday, April 25, 2008.
SOLANA BEACH, Calif. - It was a perfect spring morning for an ocean swim.
With the sun shining in a clear blue sky, Dave Martin and his triathlon training group swam past the surfers at Tide Beach on their regular Friday course through cool glassy waters about 150 yards out.
Somewhere below, a shark — presumed to be a great white — was lurking, possibly on the hurt for a seal or sea lion. It struck around 7 a.m., charging at Martin from below and lifting him vertically out of the water, both legs in its jaws, its serrated teeth slicing deep, fatal gashes.
For more story and photo's please follow the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24313314?GT1=43001
This is just terrible! It just isn't safe to go swim in the ocean anymore 
1 person likes this
4 responses
@megumiart (3771)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Oh my goodness, this is awful. :{
We've all got to be more careful and educated about the ocean. It's not a human environment, and we are like aliens in it. Not only sharks are dangerous, but also rip tides, sting rays and other venomous animals are all dangerous.
1 person likes this
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I never go into the ocean.. I have seen what is out there and really close to the shore.. My husband always goes out on the boardwalk to fish and you can look down in the water and see everything that is down there.. I do not intend to ever go out in the water again.. I am content with just walking in the water up to my ankles, that is far enough for me.. It is such a horrible thing to hear of a shark attack, and would be much worse to see one, but these waters belong to the fish and other occupants of the waters, not to us.. When we are out there swimming and or surfing, we are in their territory, they are not in ours.. I do know that a day of swimming or surfing can be so much fun, but I will never do it again.. And when someone does, they have to face the possibilities of what can happen and to suffer the consequences of their actions.. I will be content with the pool and thank God that I don't surf.. That is a choice each person makes when they go out into the ocean..
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I can't imagine seeing (or experiencing) something like this. They are rare but they do happen. Like the very last paragraph in the article says: "It's not any more dangerous than it was yesterday or the week before," Burgess said. "The reality is when you enter the sea it's a wilderness experience. There are animals out there that can and do occasionally do harm to us."
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
26 Apr 08
Oh dear it is shame that he was killed in this way. It is stuff of nightmares. I just only hope that people don't go racing off to kill a whole load of sharks, it is their home environment and we are invading it as well as depleting their food stocks so I'm not surprised they come after the 'fast food' (us!)
Poor man, such a horrid way to die. I shall check out the link after I have posted this. Thanks icy.
