On Saturday, just before 7 AM, a 13 year old boy named Chad Hammel was attacked by a shark off the coast of Beacon's Beach in San Diego County, Califorinia. Around 6 AM, Hammel arrived at the beach to go lobster driving with 2 of his frends. He was about 200 yards from the shore, where he was in view of life guards, when the attack occured. The young boy yelled that he had been bitten, so life guards and other beach-goers rushed over to help him. Hammel was airlifted to Rady's Childrens Hospital with tramatic injuries to his upper torso. He remained conscious the whole time. Event like this rarely happen around there, but a few week prior to this attack, there had been a shark spotted in the area. Over the years, there have been about 2,400 reports of great white sharks spotted in San Diego County. Authorities closed the coastline for 48 hours and cancelled a surf competition that was scheduled to take place Saturday afternoon. Officials are still unaware of what type of shark attacked Hammel and are currently on the hunt for it.
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Q- Do you think that 48 hours is to little/to much time to close the coast? How long would you close it for?
A- I think that 48 hours isn't enough time because the shark that attacked Hammel has not been found yet. If it were up to me, I would probably close it till the shark that attacked the boy was found or atleast for a week so that search parties have enough time to make sure there are no more sharks in the nearby water.
Q- Do you think that there should be more safety precaution for beach-goers since there has been an increase in spottings over the last few year?
A- I think that there should be more precautions because that would decrease the chance of attacks in this area. It would probably help if the life guards were better trained for situations similar to this one because they had a tough time trying to keep Hammel calm. I think it would also benifet to have more life guards on duty because that means there would be more eyes constantly watching water and more people to assist the victims.
Replies
Super job Haley!
I do not think they should shut the beach down, shark attacks can happen anytime anywhere in the ocean. I think it is very important to find what kind of shark it was that attacked the Hammel. I think their should also be more precautions, but then again people swim at their own risk. I believe that the life gaurds should be more trained, but it is not their fault that shark attacks happen, it is no ones fault, but the shark.
I do not think a time limit should be put on how long the beach is closed. Instead, they should keep it shut until the shark is found that bit the boy. I think this because it would not be good if other people got bitten by the same shark too. I think it might be hard to put into act more precaution to prevent shark attacks. Because the attacks can happen at any time and sharks are wild animals so they can not be kept out of areas of the ocean.
I agree with you that there shouldn't be a time limit put on how long the beach is closed. I think it's important that search parties find the shark that attacked the young boy or atleast ensure that the water in the area is clear of any dangers. Creating more precautions might be difficult because they already have many in place and you can't completely prevent an attack.
I think they can close the place for more than two days. That is rediculous after such a tragedy. If there has been a known increase in the spottings, I think they should have more safety precautions.
I don't think 48 hours is enough time because I think officials should make sure there isn't any sharks in the area, or they should try to catch them if there is. I would probably close it for as long as it takes them to catch the shark.
Yes, there should definitely be some signs or something to show that swimmers should be cautious in the water and should keep an eye out for sharks. If there has been spottings, officials should have been on top of that before something happened.
I agree that 48 hours isn't enough time. I think the coast should remain closed until the shark that attacked the young boy is found or for atleast a week so that the search party isn't rushed when they are checking the water for any other dangers. Signs would probably be a good idea, especially for the people who to go the beach often and have no idea what to expect there.
I think 48 hours is just enough time if they saw the shark far away from the shore. I would close it for about a week. I think there should be more safety but everyone is responsible for there own safety.
I think 48 hours is not enough time because the shark could still be there and they wouldn't even know it because they have not found the shark yet, and they are still on the hunt for it. I would close it until the shark was found or for at least a week possibly more that way whoever is looking for the shark has plenty of time and don't have to worry about other people being in the way. I honestly think there definitely should be more precautions with the increase of spottings and with this shark attack they never know when another is going to happen so it's better to be safe than sorry.
I agree with you that it's a good idea to keep people out of the water until the shark is found or for atleast a week because that give the diving team more time to ensure it's safe. You also make a good point that's important people remain out of the water, so that they don't get in the way of the team searching for the shark that attacked the young boy.
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