Bodyboarder killed by great white shark was bitten so hard by its 16-inch jaw it crushed his skull and left tooth behind
A BODYBOARDER killed by a great white shark was bitten so hard by its 16-inch jaw that it shattered its skull and left a tooth.
Thomas Butterfield, 42, was bitten in the head, chest and shoulder when he died on Christmas Eve.
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He was pulled off the waves after a surfer saw him with his face down, still tied to his board.
It is unclear whether the shark attacked only once or when it made several lunges. It is also unknown how big or old the shark was.
Thomas was visiting his mother and brother California, US, when he was attacked last December.
A report by a coroner ruled yesterday that he died from complications from multiple invasive traumatic injuries with blunt force.
Thomas suffered a skull fracture, crushed ribs and other injuries, including to the inferior vena cava, a large vein that carries blood from the torso and lower body to the heart.
Pathologist Dr. Joyce Carter added that he died within minutes of the attack.
And DNA from the autopsy confirmed that his injuries were from a large white shark.
Thomas’ uncle Grant said in January: “It’s a terrible lossat 42, with that he got his game together and started making something of himself.
“The family will do well, but even then it will be a difficult time to keep it together.”
There have been at least 19 shark attacks this yearof which three were fatal.
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Bodyboarder killed by great white shark was bitten so hard by its 16-inch jaw it crushed his skull and left tooth behind Source link Bodyboarder killed by great white shark was bitten so hard by its 16-inch jaw it crushed his skull and left tooth behind
