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American Morning
Lifeguards Busy in Virginia Beach After Fatal Shark Attack
Aired September 03, 2001 - 12:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: It is the last day of summer vacation season. Traditionally, beaches are packed at that time. And at Virginia Beach, Virginia lifeguards are actually really busy there today, scanning the waters for sharks after a fatal attack over the weekend. You may have heard about it. A boy was killed after being attacked by a shark.
CNN's Patty Davis joins us from the beach -- Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Colleen, in fact, the police helicopter expected to go up within 20 minutes to take another look, looking in the water for any signs of sharks. As you said, a helicopter went up earlier today, as well as boats in the water to look for any sign. They have found nothing unusual, no shark sightings, no 911 calls of shark sightings either since Saturday, when 10-year-old David Peltier was attacked.
Now he was surfing with father out on a sandbar about 10 miles down the beach from Virginia Beach, where we are right now. His father fought that shark off, prying his jaws open, and hitting in the head to get it to let go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES PELTIER, VICTIM'S UNCLE: My brother's hands, he's got 12 stitches across his right hand from trying to pry the shark's mouth open, and he did everything he could do to get his son released from the shark, and he was a hero. My brother is a hero.
No one knows how to deal with something like this. It's terrible. It's like a bad dream, and nobody wants to be in it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: Ten-year-old David Peltier did die early yesterday from his wounds. The shark had bitten him in the leg, apparently severing an artery. He lost a lot of blood. Today, the beaches are open. They are getting more crowded. This is the final day of the Labor Day holiday here in Virginia Beach. Officials say, this is so rare, and they feel comfortable keeping the beaches open because it so rare.
Now beachgoers say they are being cautious, but many aren't taking chances.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My daughter she's in the water, and I can't -- I'm nervous because I don't want to lay down for two seconds without watching because I'm so nervous. I told her don't go farther than the first wave right there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just going to stay, you know, maybe just ankle, knee deep. Let them play, but not in the water. We think that's safe.
MCEDWARDS: Has it kind of changed your mind about how far you would go in?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes.
MCEDWARDS: Talk about that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, before we usually take rafts and go out, you know, we would probably -- we haven't taken them out before, but I was thinking we would go out and swim, but I'd rather not take a chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: Beachgoers told here by officials to stay close to shore, only wade in the water, and make sure they're staying in lifeguarded areas only -- Colleen.
MCEDWARDS: CNN's Patty Davis, thanks very much.
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