The man killed in a shark attack on the outer banks will be laid to rest tomorrow. A viewing is underway right now for 60-year old Richard Snead.
His body was found last Thursday in Kill Devil Hills, days after he disappeared while swimming in Corolla.
The medical examiner said he died from a shark attack but has requested a second opinion from a shark expert.
Shark attacks are uncommon.
"The fact that the victim was swimming off of corolla at midnight when the water is warm and sharks are abundant doesn't prove that a shark attacked him."
After an autopsy, cause of death was confirmed. It proved that a shark attack killed Richard Snead. Now, the state medical examiner asked shark attack expert George Burgess what he thinks.
"The hard part in these things is determining whether the person died as a result of the encounter with the shark, or whether the damage was post mortem."
George will look over evidence, photographs, and lab reports to come to his own conclusion. In this case, his job is not an easy one.
"There is a lot of uncertainty when you are dealing with a body that has been in the water this long."
Much of the evidence has disappeared but, he will ultimately decide whether he believes a shark attack is the cause of the death.
Other shark experts will also want to know what kind of shark attacked richard sneed.
"An important clue to determining size and species - looking at the bite marks left behind on the victim."
The two common sharks in our waters that might be involved are the bull and the dusky.
"Bull and Dusky their bite is typical in that there are puncture wounds on one side and bites on the other side."
Unfortunately, experts will not have the one thing that might help most, a witness who saw the shark.
Shark attack expert George Burgess will share his findings with NewsChannel 3 when he's finished.
His body was found last Thursday in Kill Devil Hills, days after he disappeared while swimming in Corolla.
The medical examiner said he died from a shark attack but has requested a second opinion from a shark expert.
Shark attacks are uncommon.
"The fact that the victim was swimming off of corolla at midnight when the water is warm and sharks are abundant doesn't prove that a shark attacked him."
After an autopsy, cause of death was confirmed. It proved that a shark attack killed Richard Snead. Now, the state medical examiner asked shark attack expert George Burgess what he thinks.
"The hard part in these things is determining whether the person died as a result of the encounter with the shark, or whether the damage was post mortem."
George will look over evidence, photographs, and lab reports to come to his own conclusion. In this case, his job is not an easy one.
"There is a lot of uncertainty when you are dealing with a body that has been in the water this long."
Much of the evidence has disappeared but, he will ultimately decide whether he believes a shark attack is the cause of the death.
Other shark experts will also want to know what kind of shark attacked richard sneed.
"An important clue to determining size and species - looking at the bite marks left behind on the victim."
The two common sharks in our waters that might be involved are the bull and the dusky.
"Bull and Dusky their bite is typical in that there are puncture wounds on one side and bites on the other side."
Unfortunately, experts will not have the one thing that might help most, a witness who saw the shark.
Shark attack expert George Burgess will share his findings with NewsChannel 3 when he's finished.
