A man in his 50s experienced a shark attack while surfing at a popular tourist location but astonishingly managed to drive himself to the hospital for treatment. The incident occurred in South Australia at D’Estrees Bay, known as The Sewer on Kangaroo Island, where the man was bitten twice by the shark. Reports indicated that a shark had been spotted chasing seals in the area prior to the attack.
The surfer underwent emergency surgery after arriving at the hospital following the incident, which took place around 1:37 pm local time on Tuesday, according to Shark Watch South Australia. It is believed that the shark responsible for the attack was a bronze whaler, although the surfer’s identity has not been disclosed.
Bronze whaler sharks are commonly found in coastal and offshore areas of South Australia, with the ability to reach lengths of up to 3.3 meters and weights of 300 kilograms. Another surfer who survived a great white shark attack in the same vicinity described the experience as being akin to being struck by a truck during the encounter with the massive predator.
In a separate incident in 2020, Dion Lynch recounted the terrifying moment when a shark bit him on the back, buttock, and elbow, and also damaged his surfboard. Despite the injuries sustained, Dion managed to maintain hold of his board, observe the shark as it retreated, paddle to the shore, and seek assistance in a nearby car park.
Following the attack, Dion expressed hope for a full recovery while acknowledging the high number of shark attacks reported that year. He emphasized feeling fortunate and grateful for surviving the encounter, which occurred unexpectedly during what seemed like a routine day out on the water. An off-duty paramedic who happened to be a fellow surfer assisted in transporting Dion to the hospital in Kingscote, where they were met by paramedics en route.