Surfer fights off shark at Gnarabup’s Boat Ramps surf break

A young surfer managed to escape the jaws of a great white shark and swim to safety after the predator mauled his leg at Gnarabup on Monday. The man, believed to be a 24-year-old from Ballina, NSW, was surfing at Boat Ramps surf break when the shark attacked about 8.45am on Monday. Astonishingly, the attack was captured on a swell camera at the break, which shows the moment the shark lunged at the surfer and the pair thrash about hundreds of metres from the shore. It is understood the surfer fought off the shark before paddling to a safer distance. He then had the presence of mind to tourniquet a deep gash to his thigh before swimming to safety. The man caused a stir as he was helped from the water by beachgoers in front of the White Elephant Cafe where an off-duty nurse provided first-aid and stopped the worst of the bleeding. He was taken to Margaret River Hospital by other surfers before he was taken by ambulance to Bunbury Regional Hospital for further treatment. The Times understands the surfer declined an ambulance from Gnarabup because he didn’t want to pay the charge for uninsured passengers. The survivor, who is understood to be an accomplished big-wave surfer, remained in Bunbury undergoing treatment as of Thursday. A witness to the scene, who asked not to be named, told the Times soon after the attack that the surfer was “bloody lucky it wasn’t worse”. The man’s calmness under fire was praised, as well as making it to shore by himself. The onlooker said the victim was lucky the nurse, who was believed to be a visitor to the region, was having breakfast at the cafe at the time. Margaret River Recreational Surfers president Jim Ross also praised the survivor’s efforts. “The attack at Boat Ramps should remind everybody that sharks are a reality out there, and the surfer had enough presence of mind to fight it before making his escape,” he said. “If the surfer couldn’t make it to shore, he could have perished before a rescue was attempted. “It’s another example for the need to have a rapid response rescue service.” White Elephant Cafe owner Alex Brooks, a keen surfer who was on-site after the incident, said it was more important than ever now that surfers watch out for each other. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, which launched an investigation, confirmed the shark responsible was believed to be a great white. The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River closed its beaches from Gas Bay to Margaret River Mouth, but reopened them on Tuesday urging visitors to take caution. The attack was the second at a South West beach in 36 hours and one of a series of incidents this year. In the hours after the Gnarabup bite, DPRID revealed it had received a report a snorkeller was bitten by a wobbegong shark at The Lagoon in Yallingup on Saturday morning. Dunsborough man Richard Stubbs, 77, was bitten on the foot at about 8am. “I was very frightened . . . really didn’t know what to do, it was instantaneous,” Mr Stubbs told 7News. “All of a sudden something hit me, hit my leg hard . . . and I was like ‘what’s that’.” A week earlier, Albany man Keiron Benson was forced to fight for his life after a shark as “big as his boat” lunged at him while spearfishing near Coral Bay.