Tinpis
The passenger was a ships pilot called Billy Moeder. Max had flown early to Madang to collect him for some urgent job. The shark story as told to me was more like this.
Billy was bleeding quite profusely from a bump on the head. Max saw the wound and being well aware of the possibility of sharks told Billy in no uncertain terms to keep his distance.
Max was indeed more concernd with his missing boot than anything else even after he was recovered from the water.