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Surfer loses leg in shark attack in Australia, helped by man who used dog’s leash as tourniquet
An Australian surfer is in serious condition after a shark attack on Tuesday.
Kai McKenzie, 23, was surfing near New South Wales’ Port Macquarie when he encountered a nearly 10-foot-long great white shark, CBS News partner BBC News reported. The shark bit his leg off, the BBC said.
McKenzie was able to catch a wave into shore after losing his leg. An off-duty police officer at the scene made a makeshift tourniquet out of his dog’s leash, the BBC reported, stemming the bleeding until emergency responders arrived.
McKenzie’s leg “washed up a short time later,” after he had already been taken to an area hospital, according to the BBC. Locals found the limb and put it on ice, then brought it to the same hospital. Doctors are now working to see if the limb can be reattached, the BBC reported.
GoFundMe
McKenzie’s surf team, RAGE, said on social media that they are “sending love” his way. The team also noted that McKenzie broke his back last year.
“He never once complained, always just got on with doing what he loved as soon as possible,” the team said, alongside a series of photos of McKenzie. “He is an inspiring person.”
McKenzie remains in a serious but stable condition at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, Australia, according to the BBC.
A GoFundMe to support McKenzie’s recovery has been created. It has raised about $76,000 as of Wednesday morning.
The attack comes just weeks after surfer Tamayo Perry died after sustaining fatal injuries in a shark attack off the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Shark attacks are generally rare, experts say, but the International Shark Attack File reported in February that there has been a “disproportionate” increase in fatal encounter in Australia. Surfers have borne the brunt of that increase, CBS News previously reported. Australia accounted for about 22% of the world’s unprovoked shark attacks in 2023.
Tupperware and some of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the once-iconic food container maker said in a statement late Tuesday.
The company has suffered from dwindling sales following a surprise surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, when legions of people stuck at home tried their hands at cooking, which increased demand for Tupperware’s colorful plastic containers with flexible airtight seals.
A post-pandemic rise in costs of raw materials and shipping, along with higher wages, also hurt Tupperware’s bottom line.
Last year, it warned of “substantial doubt” about its ability to keep operating in light of its poor financial position.
“Over the last several years, the Company’s financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment,” president and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman said in a statement announcing the bankruptcy filing.
“As a result, we explored numerous strategic options and determined this is the best path forward,” Goldman said.
The company said it would seek court approval for a sale process for the business to protect its brand and “further advance Tupperware’s transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company.”
The Orlando, Florida-based firm said it would also seek approval to continue operating during the bankruptcy proceedings and would continue to pay its employees and suppliers.
“We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process,” Goldman said.
The firm’s shares were trading at $0.5099 Monday, well down from $2.55 in December last year.
Tupperware said it had implemented a strategic plan to modernize its operations and drive efficiencies to ignite growth following the appointment of a new management team last year.
“The Company has made significant progress and intends to continue this important transformation work.”
In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Tupperware listed assets of between $500 million and $1 billion and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion.
The filing also said it had between 50,000 and 100,000 creditors.
Tupperware lost popularity with consumers in recent years and an initiative to gain distribution through big-box chain Target failed to reverse its fortunes.
The company’s roots date to 1946, when chemist Earl Tupper “had a spark of inspiration while creating molds at a plastics factory shortly after the Great Depression,” according to Tupperware’s website.
“If he could design an airtight seal for plastic storage containers, like those on a paint can, he could help war-weary families save money on costly food waste.”
Over time, Tupper’s containers became popular that many people referred to any plastic food container as Tupperware. And people even threw “Tupperware parties” in their homes to sell the containers to friends and neighbors.
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