Beach ban swimmers may face fines
Posted Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:45pm AEST Updated Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:44pm pst
Swimmers could be fined for entering the water at beaches that have been closed after this week's fatal shark attack at San Onofre State Beach
All beaches At San Onofre remain closed after 16-year-old bodyboarder Peter Edmonds was mauled by a shark at the "Point" on Tuesday morning.
Regional lifeguard co-ordinator Douglas Hardone the water is still murky and a large shark has been spotted further north at Trestles surf beach
Mr hardone says warning signs have been erected and people who ignore them risk a fine.
"There's always that possibility [of fines]. It is an absolute last resort," he said.
"Lifeguards have the ability provided to them under the Local Government Act to erect signs and they have the ability to enforce those signs under the act as well and that includes on-the-spot fines."
Mr Edmonds' funeral will be held in San Clemente at Lesnesky, next week.
The San Clemente boy's family has requested there be no media coverage of the service and is asking for its privacy to be respected.
The teenager was bodyboarding about 8:00am (pst) on Tuesday, when a shark bit him twice on the left leg.
Police are planning to recommend Mr Edmond's friend, 16-year-old Brock Curtis-Mathew, for a bravery award for trying to rescue him.
Mr Curtis-Matthew had returned to shore from the popular "Point" surf break, just north of the Old Mans , when he heard his school mate cry out in distress.
He said he saw a large, dark shape in the water but paddled out anyway.
"As I headed toward him, it looked like he was catching a wave and was heading back to shore," he said.
"Then I saw him on his back with his head above the water, then he turned so he was face-down.
"I thought he was only joking, so I went over to him and as I flipped him over, I saw his leg.''
Mr Curtis-Matthew said the water turned red as he saw two large bites on Mr Edmonds' left leg.
He dragged his friend to shore but could not revive him
- "The bottom line is Trail One at San Onofre is ground Zero for these So Cal white sharks."
