Marine experts have warned people using Sydney Harbour and its adjoining rivers to be vigilant after a man was attacked by a shark while canoeing. Paul McNamara, 35, suffered bruising and minor cuts when the shark rammed his kayak in the Parramatta River, which flows into the harbour.
McNamara described the incident: 'There was an almighty bang, and it was like someone had just picked the kayak up and flung me in the water.' The shark circled him as he tried to escape, then butted him in the chest, winding him. He managed to swim to a buoy and clung to it for an hour before being rescued by fishermen.
Although McNamara was not bitten, the kayak had part of a shark's tooth embedded in it and a large bite mark. Police believe the shark was an aggressive bull shark that may have ventured into the harbour's upper reaches to feed after recent heavy rains. They advised kayakers and rowing teams to exercise caution.
This attack follows a similar incident last year when a shark tried to overturn a school rowing boat. In 1996, a man required 50 stitches after being attacked while swimming at night in the Parramatta River. No fatalities have occurred off Sydney's beaches or in the harbour since the 1960s.
John West, a shark expert from Taronga Zoo, said people should be aware of sharks in the harbour and rivers during summer. 'They just need to be aware that there could be sharks in the area, and it's a natural environment for them,' he said.
