Shark Hoax A `reckless' Waste Of Time
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday January 28, 2003
A HOAX phone call about a shark attack at Bulli Beach was ``reckless", McDonald's Aerial Patrol general manager Harry Mitchell said yesterday.
Mr Mitchell said that just before 2pm yesterday police and surf authorities had been notified of a shark attack at Bulli Beach.
``The Aerial Patrol was dealing with a shark situation at Culburra at the time and was about to head to Bulli when police radioed that the initial call was confirmed as a hoax," he said.
Mr Mitchell said those responsible for the hoax had ``recklessly tied up emergency resources".
At the time the Aerial Patrol had spotted three sharks - between 2m and 3m long - at Culburra Beach.
The sharks were only about 75m from swimmers and board riders and the water was evacuated when the Aerial Patrol notified Culburra Surf Club.
Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay was twice closed on Saturday after large sharks were spotted inside the breaker line.
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury
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