A man aged in his 20s has survived a shark attack while surfing at the popular Bunker Bay beach in Western Australia, about 260 kilometres south-west of Perth.
Key points:
- The victim suffered leg wounds and his surfboard was bitten in half
- He was attacked by a suspected 4m white shark “as big as a LandCruiser”
- Fellow surfers helped him to shore and he was flown to hospital in Bunbury
A rescue helicopter was sent to the beach after the surfer was attacked about 2:00pm on Friday.
The man, named on social media as Phil Mummert and who is believed to live locally, suffered lacerations to his leg as part of his surfboard was bitten off.
Fisheries WA said the shark was thought to be a 4-metre white shark.
The man was helped from the water by other surfers and remained conscious throughout as he was flown to Bunbury hospital, accompanied in the helicopter by his girlfriend.
He remained in a stable condition in hospital on Friday night.
Victim’s girlfriend praises rescuers
In a Facebook post, Mr Mummert’s girlfriend said he was “doing okay” in hospital.
“He was bitten by a shark at Bunker Bay this afternoon and got a few chunks taken out of his leg,” Mish Wright said.
“I honestly don’t know how a person can see a total stranger getting attacked by a 4m great white shark and swim towards to save him, so we are beyond grateful to everyone that helped save Phil’s life.
“So lucky that Phil got away with his life and limbs and beyond lucky that we live in such a kind and caring community.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts — thank you, thank you, thank you.
“We’ve been flown to the hospital and just waiting for him to get stitched up. Phil’s doing great and singing shark do do do do do do.”
White shark ‘as big as a LandCruiser’
Dunsborough surfer Paul Burke was at the beach at the time and said he was told to get out of the water because there had been an attack.
He said the shark took a big bite out of the man’s board.
Mr Burke said he was told the shark had a dorsal fin “a metre long” and “a big belly like a 44 gallon drum.
“[It was] as big as a LandCruiser-type car,” he said.
Mr Burke said a fellow surfer came to the man’s aid and helped bring him to the shore.
“That takes a lot of guts to paddle straight to the action,” he said.
Shark spotted in water just before attack
Bunker Bay is a popular, picturesque beach not far from the tourist town of Dunsborough in WA’s South West region.
The bay is frequented by swimmers, fishers and surfers who take advantage of the popular Farm Break surf spot at the north-eastern end of the bay.
In 2011, bodyboarder Kyle Burden was killed by a shark at Bunker Bay.
A woman working at the nearby Pullman Bunker Bay resort told the ABC employees were asked to shift their cars from the carpark after Friday’s attack, to make way for the rescue helicopter to land.
She said the man was taken to a nearby house to receive first aid while awaiting the helicopter.
It is understood another surfer reported seeing a shark swim beneath him shortly before the attack.
People have been urged to take additional care in the Bunker Bay area and to observe any beach closures.
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