ACTIVITY: Spearfishing
CASE: GSAF 1960.07.27
DATE: July 27, 1960
LOCATION: The incident
took place off the shore of
Taupota Village, Samarai
Island, Milne Bay Province,
Papua New Guinea.
Samarai is a small island,
only 24 hectares (59
acres). It is on the extreme
southeastern tip of PNG
and is five kilometres from
Alotau (the capital of Milne
Bay Province.
NAME: John Klaso
DESCRIPTION: He was a 24-year-old male and was wearing black shorts.
BACKGROUND
WEATHER: It was a sunny day.
MOON PHASE: New Moon, July 24, 1960
SEA CONDITIONS: The water was clear.
DISTANCE FROM SHORE: 100 yards
DEPTH OF WATER AT INCIDENT SITE: 12 feet
TIME: Afternoon
NARRATIVE: Klaso and a friend had been spearfishing, but his friend decided to leave the
water. Klaso saw a fish that he wanted to spear. Whilst underwater he was attacked by a
shark which he fought off. Then he swam and waded to shore and was in the process of
donning his shorts when he collapsed.
INJURY: His left arm was severed leaving a stump of about six inches. He also sustained a
long jagged wound over the posterior aspect of the chest.
TREATMENT: Klasso was treated at the native hospital in Samarai. The attending
physician was Dr. I.S. Reid. He was brought to the hospital three days after the incident.
The examination report of the Medical Officer is quoted:
“O/E. Under G.A. 1. Badly infected arm; torn off raggedly three inches from shoulder joint
anteriorly. At shoulder joint level posteriorly Humerus projects six inches. Much maceration
of muscles with much dirt and pus present. 2. From post. shoulder wound large deep tear
extends to nearly waist level. It is exposing ribs and lateral aspect is undercut.
Pneumothorax present. Some skin loss her also. The whole is badly infected, green pus
and dead matter present. B.P. 120/80. Temp. 99 (ax).
The whole of the damaged area was cleaned and dressed under an anaesthetic of E.C. and
© Global Shark Accident File, 2000. All rights reserved. This report may not be abridged or
reproduced in any form without written permission of the Global Shark Accident File..
O.E. using eusol and acriflavine emulsion where considered necessary. The pneumothorax
was closed. Subsequent dressings were carried out under a general anaesthetic until such
time as the patient could bear the pain. He was sedatised with Pethidine 50 mgm when
necessary.
The patient made excellent progress despite the mauling he had had and the 17th August
the disarticulation and amputation of the remainder of the arm took place. He was given
intravenous fluids bringing his blood pressure from 108/82 to 126/94 in just under two and a
half hours. The B.P. dropped next day but with much care and attention this was eventually
brought to normal state.
He suffered much pain especially after the amputation but as healing took place so did the
pain go away.
We discharged the patient on the 28th September.
SPECIES INVOLVED: Not identified
REPORTED BY: Dr. I.S. Reid
© Global Shark Accident File, 2000. All rights reserved. This report may not be abridged or
reproduced in any form without written permission of the Global Shark Accident File...