shark attacks surf ski

I just read this article about a shark attack in Western Australia.

A MAN who survived a brush with a 3m shark which attacked his surf-ski at Mullaloo Beach early today described the impact as like being rammed by a jet-ski.
The Mullaloo Surf Club member was thrust into the ocean when the shark, believed to be a 3m great white, headbutted his craft and then latched onto it near Pinnaroo Point about 7.15am.
Kallaroo man Martin Kane, believed to be aged in his late 50s, was rescued by one of his fellow paddlers who risked his own safety by paddling into the path of the shark to retrieve his mate from the water.
A shaken Mr Kane is recovering from the ordeal at his home, but has agreed to speak to the media at 2pm.
Surf Life Saving WA community safety manager Chris Peck said four Mullaloo Surf Club members had been enjoying a regular morning paddle about 150m offshore when the creature struck about 1km south of the Mullaloo Surf Club.One of the members felt a significant thump on the back half of his surf ski. He initially thought a jet ski had hit him in the back of the ski,'' Mr Peck said.
"He was flung into the water and turned around to see the tail of the shark moving through.''
Mr Peck said the fellow paddlers showed great courage, keeping calm as one of them retrieved the man from the water and put him on their ski to transport him back to shore.
The paddlers returned to the local Dome Cafe about 7.30am -- as they do after every morning paddle -- and were buzzing about Mr Kane's near-miss.A Dome staff member said Mr Kane was pretty shaken but in good spirits.
A Department of Fisheries shark expert Rory McAuley has assessed the damage to the ski in a bid to determine the exact size and species of the animal.
Mr Peck warned oceangoers to be vigilant of shark activity when planning their recreation.
"There is an underlying message there that going into the ocean on your own is not a good thing. It's about safety in numbers,'' he said.
"Who knows what might have happened if he had to have swum 150m into shore and not had someone there to help out?''
Fisheries shark response unit manager Mike Burgess said officers had helped to retrieve the damaged surf ski.
Mr Burgess said the shark was likely to have been a great white.
"It appears the shark was coming from behind and has taken a bite at the end of the ski,'' he said. "Certainly the force has thrown him out of the ski. "There is documented evidence of great whites attacking small craft.''

UPDATE 2.40pm: A surf ski-paddler who was attacked by a 3m shark this morning said the impact was like an explosion and he believed he was going to die.

Mullaloo Surf Club member Martin Kane, was paddling with four others about 150m offshore at about 7:15am when the shark rammed the back of his ski and knocked him into the water.

The 62-year-old grandfather said he was admiring a pod of dolphins before the shark struck with a noise he compared to a car crash.

He has told how his thoughts quickly changed to being in the water, swimming for safety and thinking "this is the end".

Mr Kane said he saw a giant grey shape and a tail thrashing around and impulsively threw his paddle at the figure.

“I saw it swimming around me and I thought, time to get outta here,” he said.

“I threw my paddle at it and started swimming away... I thought I was gone, I’m dead.

"I thought there is no way I am going to make it to the beach with a shark that size after me.”

A fellow paddler then put his ski between Mr Kane and the shark, allowing him grab on to the back of the ski before the group paddled into safety.

Mr Kane commended the efforts of his fellow life-savers who came to his rescue.

“Next thing I know one of the guys came along and said, get on board matey, we’re going to the beach,” he said.

Mr Kane said his four accompanying surf ski paddlers then paddled him in together.

Mr Kane said he believed the shark had got its teeth stuck in his ski which could have save his life.

Mr Kane initially thought he had been hit by a jet ski and believed the shark was 3m to 3.5m but did not know what type it was.



Great work by his mate(s) to get him back to shore, as we know this is no mean feat.

Sounds funny but I actually find this a little reassuring, I always figured if attacked the shark would get a mouthful of fibgreglass then head off to pick the splinters out of it's mouth

The only time I really give them a thought is when I come off and have my legs dangling in the drink.

Glad I didn't read this before my solo dawn paddle this morning.

We've had a few incidents over here over the years too:

Shark/Surfski incidents in South Africa

Lucky that there were other paddlers around.

Might have been a very different article if he was completely alone.

Next time I watch the dolphins do the round em up and eat em thing, remind me not to sit there with my legs dangling over the sides.

Next time I watch the dolphins do the round em up and eat em thing, remind me not to sit there with my legs dangling over the sides.

Fair comment. Folks sometimes think that they're safer when there are dolphins around but that's not necessarily the case.

Dolphins are also predators and prey on bait fish that is also hunted by other predators.

So when you see bait fish being dived on by flocks of birds; dolphins flashing about, remember that there on the periphery there's likely to be other, more senior members of the food chain around as well... personally bait balls scare the hell out of me when I'm on the water. (Seals moving fast too - especially if they're porpoising and in groups.)