A surfer on the north coast of New South Wales had an incredible stroke of luck: A great white shark snapped at his board, biting it in two. The man remained uninjured. Eyewitnesses reported dramatic scenes early on Monday morning.
Attack in shallow water
The incident occurred around 7:30 AM at the popular surfing bay, Cabarita Beach. Local yoga teacher Kym Falvey witnessed the man being thrown from his board half. “The shark bit directly into the board behind him – it practically exploded,” she said. The surfer reached the shore unharmed, though his board had a large, crescent-shaped bite mark. He felt the impact on the back of his leg but was already in waist-deep water and stood on the beach seconds later.
Surfer friend Kane Douglas reported: “The board exploded, one half flew one way, the other the other way. It all happened so fast – foam and debris everywhere.”
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More Information5-metre shark caught and released again
Shortly after the attack, the NSW Department of Primary Industries confirmed that an approximately five-metre-long great white shark was caught on a smart drumline nearby and subsequently released about one kilometre offshore. Authorities responded immediately: Cabarita Beach and the nearby Norries Cove were precautionarily closed to the public, warning signs were put up, and two additional smart drumlines were installed. At the end of June, a 16-year-old had been bitten by a shark in the same area.
“Like a miracle” – reactions and assessments
For the rescuers from Surf Lifesaving Far North Coast, the surfer was “very, very lucky”. Spokesperson Dave Rope said: “It’s a miracle that no one was physically injured. The bite was fierce and large – the board was split in two. That speaks to the enormous power of the shark.”
Surfboard builder Jason Jamesson was also stunned: “The board was laminated heavier and stronger than usual. The shark simply crushed it with a single bite.” The affected surfer took the experience remarkably calmly and, according to Jamesson, was primarily concerned with picking up his son and getting to work on time.
