WORLD> America
3 shark attacks have Mexico resort area in panic
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-29 10:45

Perez Yanez was interviewed while giving surfing lessons to a couple from Texas — the only two people in the water at Troncones and his first clients since Ruiz died. He usually teaches three groups a week.

Lisa Rabon, of Walnut Springs, Texas, said she and her husband came to celebrate her 50th birthday and fulfill her lifelong dream of learning to surf. She didn't learn of the attacks until after arriving and said she has seen hardly anyone else in the water.

"I've been hearing about the attacks, but I didn't ask for any details. I didn't want it to be part of my experience," she said. "If I think about sharks, I'll never learn."

Leon Perez Yanez, brother of Herberto and president of the Guerrero state surfers association, said at least three groups canceled surfing lessons with him since the weekend attacks.

Grimes said he was worried about his own business — a surf shop he opened six months ago when he decided to move to Zihuatanejo permanently after 25 years of visiting.

But he said he will soon be back on his board, and is sure most surfers won't stay away long because they accept the risks of their sport.

"I'll go right back. Yeah, I'm that stupid," Grimes said, examining his bandaged arm outside the hospital where he just had his daily cleaning. "I'll go right back out as soon as I'm able to."

That is part of the problem, said Lowe, an avid surfer himself. With more people in the water, in more remote locations, attacks are inevitable.

"For every shark we take out of the water, we put 10 people in," he said. "The bottom line is the ocean is a wild environment and people just have to accept the risks when they go in it."

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