INJURED - 7 September 2005 - Park Beach, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia - surfer attacked

A 15-year-old surfer, Blake Garnett, suffered severe lacerations to his left foot after he was bitten by a shark while surfing at Park Beach, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.

His father, Michael Garnett, told media Blake was standing beside his surfboard in the surf at Park Beach at dusk on Wednesday, 7 September.

"He had just caught a wave and felt something pulling him down and then it let go and nipped at him, all in a matter of seconds,” Garnett was quoted as saying.

His foot has a bite mark across the toes and at least three deep, wide slashing cuts on his ankle.

No shark was sighted at the time of the attack. Locals quoted in The Coffs Coast Advocate believe a baby bronze whaler or black tip shark bit Blake.

Two surfing friends helped Blake to the beach where they waited for an ambulance to take him to hospital.

Sharks and dolphins had been sighted chasing baitfish at Coffs Harbour during a surfing competition the same day, competition organiser Mark Windon said. Blake was not surfing in the competition. Windon said the competition had been put on hold for half an hour because of the shark sighting.

• Sources:
  The Daily Telegraph

South Australia shark attack victim tells his story

South Australia shark attack victim, Jake Heron, gives a first-hand account of his ordeal.

"The board took the brunt of it - they definitely do not like fibreglass," Jake Heron said from hospital on 7 September.

"I haven't really dealt with it," he said but he thought it was unlikely he would return to surf in the same area.

More... from the Port Lincoln Times

INJURED - Eyre Peninsula shark attack update - 4 September 2005

Jake Heron, 40, was surfing off South Australia's Eyre Peninsula with long-time friend Craig Materna when he was attacked just 10 metres from the shore by a four-metre Great White shark. The shark bit him on the right arm and thigh.

The attack took place at Fishery Bay around 3pm (local time) Sunday 4 September.

Heron’s two children, a six-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy, witnessed the attack from the shore.

Heron gave the shark a couple of solid punches before it let him go and it seems this may have saved his life.

Materna, who was riding a surfboard nearby at the time of the attack told the media he heard his friend scream and paddled straight to him.

"He was freaking out, yelling for help," Mr Materna said.
"No one saw the shark come up to him - it knocked him off the board.
"It pulled him under because the leg rope was attached to him. He kicked and punched the shark, I think in the gill."

The shark also took a bite out of Heron’s surfboard splitting it in two before returning to continue the attack on him.

Heron managed to get out of the water and struggle to his car where he called for help. He was taken to Port Lincoln Hospital where he had 20 stitches in his arm and 40 stitches in his thigh.

Materna said: "Jake was lucky - the shark had a few goes at him."
"He got a shock. He realises he's lucky to be alive.

• Source: The Age

INJURED - 4 September 2005 - Eyre Peninsula, South Australia - surfer attacked

A 40 year-old man suffered leg injuries after he was attacked by what is believed to be a four-metre Great White shark while surfing off the Eyre Peninsula about 30km south of Port Lincoln in South Australia.

His board was split in two during the attack which took place around 3pm local time (5.30am UTC).

The victim, who was not yet named, was taken to hospital and was reportedly in a stable condition.

Source: Nine MSN

FATAL - reported 4 Sept 2005 - fishing trawler, Thailand - fisherman attacked

In a rather bizarre and tragic incident a Thai fishing trawler crewman was untangling fishing nets on the deck of the boat when he was bitten on the arm and leg by a two-metre long, 200kg shark which had been brought aboard in the nets.

The crewman, a Cambodian migrant worker identified only as Ham, 21, bled to death on the boat. The incident took place about 100 nautical miles from shore.

No other details were immediately available.

Source: Independent Online