Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article994940
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SHARK ATTACKS BOY BATHER
SURF TRAGEDY AT BONDI MODEST RESCUER DISAPPEARS
SYDNEY, Sunday. Colin James Stewart, a boy of 14, living at Campbell Parade, Bondi, was attacked and horribly mutilated by a 12- foot shark in the surf at Bondi, at 6.30 p.m. yesterday, and died in St. Vincent's Hospital, at 7.30 a.m. to-day.
A thrilling feature of the sensation was the heroism of an- other bather who went to his assistance, and succeeded in bringing the mauled and semi-conscious boy to the beach.
Afterwards the rescuer disappeared, and he was not
located until this afternoon.
His name is Robert Kavanagh, 22, and he is a dental student, residing at 124 Oxford Street, City. Kavanagh himself made an effort to hide his identify, but his father communicated with the police, and stated that he had read of the af-
fair in the newspapers and believed that his son had effected the rescue. The police immediately interviewed young Cavanagh, and he admitted that he was the man whom they were seek- ing, but said that after getting Stewart ashore, he did not think he was wanted further, because there were plenty of
others to look after the injured lad. As he was covered with blood he went back to the water, washed himself, and then went home
Kavanagh is an extremely modest young man, and it was only after a
great deal of persuasion that he could be induced to tell his story.
He said that he was surfing about
40 yards from the beach. "There were
not many bathers," he said, ''and Stew-
art, whom I did not know, was stand- ing on my right hand side, on the ex- treme southern side from where the other people were swimming. My at- tention was directed to the boy, who appeared to be struggling in the water. At the same time I saw what appeared to be a shark, which was lashing the water, and grabbing at Stewart, who was struggling with it and endeavour- ing to push it away. I swam towards him, and as I got near him the shark made another attack and pulled him under the water. Stewart called out and I caught hold of him and proceeded to bring him to shore. Af- ter getting about 10 yards nearer the beach a wave caught us and carried us a short distance. When near the beach other men came to our assist- ance and helped us on to the beach.
Then after washing the blood ooff myself I went home."