Fatal Incident
Fatal Shark Encounter in Durban Bay Following Boat Capsizing
A servant swimming from a capsized boat in Durban Bay was fatally attacked by a shark on May 24, 1852. The incident occurred in the Indian Ocean waters off South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal coast.
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Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On Monday, May 24, 1852, a fatal shark incident occurred in Durban Bay, located off the coast of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The victim was an unidentified male servant employed by Mr. Messum. The incident took place in the Indian Ocean waters of the bay. Circumstances of the incident indicate the servant was swimming in the water after a boat had capsized. While attempting to remain in the water, possibly awaiting rescue or attempting to reach safety, the servant was fatally attacked by a shark. The exact species of shark involved was not documented in historical records. This incident was reported in The Natal Times on June 4, 1852, though detailed information about the circumstances was limited. The moon phase at the time was approaching the first quarter, occurring on May 26, 1852. Durban Bay during the 19th century was an active maritime area, with Salisbury Island and The Bluff forming notable geographical features of the location. This fatal encounter represents one of the documented shark incidents from South Africa's early colonial period and highlights the hazards faced by those working at sea in waters inhabited by large sharks.