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Claims shark dragged, kicked and left to die on Orewa Beach

Author
Newstalk ZB, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 3 Jan 2020, 9:32AM
The shark at Orewa Beach yesterday. (Photo / Supplied)

Claims shark dragged, kicked and left to die on Orewa Beach

Author
Newstalk ZB, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 3 Jan 2020, 9:32AM

There are claims a shark that washed up at an Auckland beach was deliberately pulled out of the water after being caught in a fishing net.

Witnesses told the Herald a group of people repeatedly kicked the large fish before pulling it onto the beach, effectively leaving it to die.

A woman who contacted the newspaper said a family member was at the scene when the incident happened.

"The shark was purposefully caught in a net by a group of men who caught sight of the [shark] some time earlier," she said.

"The men proceeded to pull the shark on to the beach - repeatedly kicked it, damaged its jaw and took photos next to the dying [fish] while laughing."

The woman said when her relative tried to intervene, the men intimidated them and tried to prevent them from helping.

She said as a result of that, police were called immediately.

Another witness reiterated those claims in a post on Facebook, calling the incident as a "pretty sad display" at Orewa Beach.

She said she saw a man pull the shark in after getting it out of a net.

"But then tried to stand over and intimidate anyone trying to save it and asked if anyone had a knife.

"Then after [someone] pulled it into the water, they pulled it back!"

Police confirmed they received reports that a shark had washed up on the beach shortly after 5pm.

"It had attracted a crowd and one of the reports suggested people had been kicking the shark," a spokeswoman said.

"Police attended, but the shark had already died."

She said the Department of Conservation was also called to the scene.

 

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