A shark struck Australian Dave Seymour’s E-Foil board off Moore Park Beach north of Bundaberg on Tuesday morning, July 21, 2026. The impact threw the experienced surfer into the water. Seymour was able to get back on the board and was uninjured.
Loud news.com.au The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. The carbon board that Seymour had borrowed from a friend subsequently bore deep teeth marks.
Sudden hit on Hydrofoil
Seymour said the hit came from the side without warning. After the impact, the board drifted about two to three meters away while he initially had to deal with the incident in the water. Then he swam back, rose again and drove to the beach.
Also 7NEWS reported on the damage and Seymour’s account. According to available reports, although the animal bit the board, there was no contact with its body and no injury.
Shark species not determined
Which shark species was involved is not known. Tooth marks on a board and an estimate of size after a surprising impact are not sufficient to reliably identify the species.
Seymour interpreted the hit as a possible mix-up with prey. He also cited increased trawler activity in the area, which may have brought sharks closer to shore. Both are his assessments; a direct connection is not proven by the reports.
Rare incident after decades in the water
The Bundaberg surfer said he has been on the water for more than 30 years and has never experienced a similar encounter before. He also did not observe a general increase in shark activity around Bundaberg.
The case also shows why damaged equipment should not automatically be read as evidence of targeted action against people. Sharks explore unknown objects with their mouths; With fast boards, poor visibility and prey fish, short false contacts can occur.
Demand for shark first aid kits
Seymour is using the attention to address a local safety issue. The Moore Park Beach Surf Life Saving Club says it is seeking funding for special Shark Bite Kits. Such sets are intended to help with severe bleeding until the emergency services arrive.
Fortunately, they were not needed in this encounter. Resilient remains: An unknown shark hit an E-Foil board in front of Moore Park Beach, significantly damaging it and throwing the driver into the water; Dave Seymour reached the beach without injury.