Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson
Survives Shooting Attempt in Antarctica
Sea Shepherd News
07. March 2008
Today around 3:45pm Australian Eastern Standard Time in the
Australian Exclusive Economic Zone of Antarctica, an attempt was
made on the life of Paul Watson, Captain of the Sea Shepherd
vessel Steve Irwin.
A single bullet was fired by what must have been an expert
marksman at Paul’s chest, which embedded in his Kevlar vest and
also damaged a metal badge worn behind the vest. Fortunately, this
stopped the bullet penetrating his flesh.
The ships’ doctor was emphatic that without protection, the shot
would have been lethal.
At the time the shot was fired, the Japanese whaling vessel
Nisshin Maru was moving parallel to the Steve Irwin in stormy seas.
The high level of movement indicates that the shot must have been
fired by an expert.
The Steve Irwin continues to track the Nisshin Maru west after it
altered its northerly course.
We have received verbal confirmation that the Australian Embassy
has been advised by the Japanese that a crew member on board the
Nisshin Maru fired “warning” shots. In addition to the lead bullet
lodged in Captain Watson’s Kevlar vest, up to seven flash grenades
were also hurled by armed Japanese Coast Guard Officers, injuring
two other Steve Irwin crew members.
Captain Watson is now in a comfortable condition, and no whales
are being slaughtered in the name of bogus research by these
illegal poachers.
No warning was given that a bullet would be fired.
Video and still footage is now available in our Migaloo section.
The questions that need to be asked are who fired this shot, and
who gave the authority to do it?
Report from Peter Brown, 1st Officer on board the Steve Irwin
Video
http://www.seashepherd.org/migaloo/video.html