The National Sea and Rescue Institute and Shark Spotters have urged the public to stay clear of seals when visiting the beach, citing the risks of serious injury and being infected with rabies.

This follows two separate incidents on Saturday October 26 in which two men were bitten by Cape fur seals.

The first incident, involving a 65-year-old man, occurred around 1pm at Blue Waters Beach along the False Bay coast.

According to mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews, lifeguards were on duty at the time, but no one spotted a seal in the water.

"The water was murky and no one saw the animal enter or leave the area. We must keep in mind the bathing areas are safer swimming areas, but people are swimming in the animals' environment and they do so at their own risk,“ he said.

An NSRI statement confirmed that the man was bitten on the hand and leg, treated medically by the City’s Alpha Surf lifeguards and was in a stable condition when he was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Later on Saturday, Western Province Lifesaving’s Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club reported that a bather sustained a small seal bite wound while swimming at Big Bay, Bloubergstrand.

“The man was advised to clean the wound and to attend at a hospital for further care and evaluation of the bite,” the NSRI statement said.

According to Mr Andrews, Saturday’s incident at Blue Waters Beach is one of nearly 30 seal attacks reported on the False Bay coastline in the last two years.

In July this year, the provincial health department issued an alert on the risk of rabies along the province’s coast after a confirmed outbreak of the infectious disease among Cape fur seals.

Rabies is a serious and often fatal disease.

“The rabies virus is spread to humans and other animals through contact with the saliva of infected animals. Humans can be exposed to rabies through bites, scratches or licks to wounds, grazes, broken skin, or to the lining of the mouth and nose by rabid animals,” said the health department’s alert.

Speaking to the Plainsman on Monday October 28, Sarah Waries, chief executive officer of Shark Spotters, said anyone who had been bitten by a seal should notify authorities and seek medical attention immediately.

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