I was saddened to learn from the website of the Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County that Bill Lachmund died in Nov. 1996 at age 49. I met Bill at Palm Beach Junior College.
I used to hitch a ride with William to PBJC in his Sunbeam Alpine.
I remember when he was attacked by a shark while surfing. The teacher had him tell us about it in class. He said he felt something tug on his hand. He pulled it out of the water and a large shark was attached to the side of his hand between his wrist and little finger. It was a large shark with only the tip of his jaws hanging onto his hand. The shark let go and chomped again taking off a piece of his hand. He paddled to shore and started to go into shock on the beach.
Here's the info from a site that keeps track of shark attacks:
William L Otterson (1965)
I used to hitch a ride with William to PBJC in his Sunbeam Alpine.
I remember when he was attacked by a shark while surfing. The teacher had him tell us about it in class. He said he felt something tug on his hand. He pulled it out of the water and a large shark was attached to the side of his hand between his wrist and little finger. It was a large shark with only the tip of his jaws hanging onto his hand. The shark let go and chomped again taking off a piece of his hand. He paddled to shore and started to go into shock on the beach.
Here's the info from a site that keeps track of shark attacks:
Apr 4th 1965
Usa - Florida - Juno Beach, Palm Beach County
Shark: Blacktip or spinner shark
Victim: William F. Lachmund
Age/sex: 17 M
Activity: Paddling on surfboard
Injury: Left hand punctured & lacerated