S. Africa boat accident kills man from Maine

loading...
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – South African police have identified two Americans who died in a shark adventure boat accident as Cassey Scott LaJeunesse, 35, of Biddeford, Maine, and Christopher Tallman, 34, of San Francisco. The Americans and a Norwegian drowned when their boat capsized…
Sign in or Subscribe to view this content.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – South African police have identified two Americans who died in a shark adventure boat accident as Cassey Scott LaJeunesse, 35, of Biddeford, Maine, and Christopher Tallman, 34, of San Francisco.

The Americans and a Norwegian drowned when their boat capsized after being hit by a freak wave in otherwise calm waters Sunday while they were on a shark cage diving expedition in Gansbaai, about two hours from Cape Town.

The town prides itself as the world’s capital for great white sharks, attracted by clear frigid waters and a big seal colony.

Thousands of tourists every year are lowered beneath the water’s surface in a sturdy cage to view sharks, which are attracted by fish and other bait.

The Cape Times newspaper said Tuesday that Tallman, 34, was retrieved from underneath the boat with a faint pulse but died onshore.

The newspaper reported that Tallman and LaJeunesse had been in South Africa for a week and had been due to fly home Tuesday.

Correction: In a story in Wednesday’s paper about a boating accident off South Africa that killed three people, The Associated Press, relying on information from local police, gave an incorrect first name for one of the victims. His name is Casey LaJeunesse, not Cassey. He was from Arundel, Maine, not Biddeford, Maine.

Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

By continuing to use this site, you give your consent to our use of cookies for analytics, personalization and ads. Learn more.