Adam Strange

A male swimmer aged 46 years died in a shark attack at Muriwai early this afternoon, Wednesday 27 February. The man was Adam Strange, a well-known film-maker and local Muriwai man. He was attacked while swimming from Maori Bay to Muriwai Beach. Witnesses says he raised his hand signalling for help, but the shark returned for a second attack. Other sharks were seen in the area. Life savers from Muriwai club and police retrieved his body. The shark was reported to be probably a great white about 12 feet long. The police shot at the shark and it swam away, it is not known whether it was wounded or dead. The fatality follow reports from earlier in the week of a massive shark in the surf at Piha, heading north. The beach and regional park at Muriwai are closed for 48 hours. West Coast beaches including Piha are closed until the morning. This is thought to be the first ever shark fatality on the West Coast of Auckland; the closest previously being in the Manukau Harbour in 1966.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868127

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8359135/Shark-attacks-and-kills-beachgoer

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/history-shark-attacks-in-new-zealand-waters-5355344

There have been 11 deaths from shark attacks in New Zealand. These are:

1852 Wellington Harbour

1896 Napier

1896 Kumara

1907 Moeraki

1964 St Clair

1966 Oakura

1966 Manukau Harbour

1967 St Kilda

1967 Moeraki

1968 Aramoana Mole

1976 Te Kaha