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Friday, 21 December 2007, 11:35 GMT

Bondi beach shark attack 'a hoax'

Sunbathers on Bondi Beach A man who said he was attacked by a shark at Australia's Bondi Beach is in jail facing robbery charges and may have concocted his story, reports say.

Scott Wright's tale of how he escaped the shark by punching it on the nose made headlines last week.

He had deep gouges on one arm but now Australian newspapers claim that he hurt himself on a glass window several days before the alleged shark attack.

Mr Wright was reportedly later arrested for theft at a backpacker's hostel.

The 34-year-old, who had been sleeping in a cave at the beach, told reporters that he had gone swimming at night when he came across the shark.

He said: "[It] attacked me, grabbed hold of my arm and wouldn't let go. So I ended up punching him in the nose and trying to fight him off.

"I thought I was a goner, I thought I was going to die."

His wounds needed dozens of stitches, and a night in a Sydney hospital.

It was believed to be the first shark attack at Bondi Beach for 70 years.

But Australian newspapers report that he may have concocted the story to cover up his alleged criminal activities.

Police said the apparent shark attack had not been reported to them, and they were unsure of how Mr Wright had sustained his injuries.



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Related to this story:
Shark attacks man at Bondi Beach (16 Dec 07 |  Asia-Pacific )
Bondi caveman to keep beach home (21 May 07 |  Asia-Pacific )
Bondi booze ban upsets backpackers (21 Dec 04 |  Asia-Pacific )
Sydney beach to stub out smokers (18 May 04 |  Asia-Pacific )
Beach bums banned from Bondi (23 Dec 99 |  Asia-Pacific )
Country profile: Australia (04 Dec 07 |  Country profiles )

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