Surfer punches shark, escapes | QLD News | Breaking News in Queensland
Surfer punches shark, escapes
Bronwyn Zelinski ran to pull her son Myles away from the water as a shark attacked a surfer at Archie’s Beach on Wednesday.
A BARGARA mum watched in horror as a shark attack unfolded in the surf at Archie’s Beach on Wednesday afternoon.
Bronwyn Zelinski was walking along the sand with her son when she saw the water begin to bubble and froth around a surfer, only 20m out.
She said the man slid off his board and began punching the nearby ocean.
“I just thought; “Oh my god,” and screamed for Myles (her son) to come back because he was walking further ahead near the water,” she said.
“The surfer was bashing the water on the other side of the board and then it all went calm.”
Ms Zelinski said the man climbed on his surfboard and quickly paddled back in.
“He looked really shocked and just kept looking over himself to see if he had been bitten,” she said.
“His young son was on a board in the water not far away at the time. I’d hate to think what would have happened if it was him that got attacked.”
Ms Zelinski and her sons live by the beach and swim there most days.
“I have never seen anything like that,” she said.
“He was only about 20 metres out to sea so it was a real shock.”
The family returned to the beach yesterday afternoon, but Ms Zelinski was keeping a close eye on her boys.
“I think that man will think twice about surfing again,” she said.
Lifeguard Riley McGregor was on duty at nearby Kelly’s Beach during the attack.
“The man came over afterward to let us know what had happened,” Mr McGregor said.
“He said the shark came for him a few times.”
Mr McGregor said the man’s surfboard had been bitten.
“There was a break in the back of the board,” he said.
“The man said the shark was grey in colour but that doesn’t really narrow it down.”
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries manager of Queensland Shark Patrol Program Tony Ham said the main sharks caught in that area were tiger and whaler species such as bull sharks.
“Tiger sharks can be pretty aggressive,” he said.
“They have certainly been responsible for attacks on humans in the past.”
Mr Ham said the incident may have been a case of mistaken identity.
“The silhouette of someone on a surfboard is fairly similar to a turtle,” he said.
“They usually hang around this area for the turtles.”
He said about 70 sharks were caught off Bundaberg each year.
“It’s a fairly average number,” he said.
Surf Life Saving Queensland Wide Bay Capricorn regional manager Craig Holden said the attack was a timely reminder for swimmers to be aware of their surroundings.
“People need to avoid high risk situations like swimming at dusk and dawn, in creek and river mouths and near schools of bait fish,” he said.
“People always need to be on the lookout.”
Mr Holden said Bundaberg beaches had been closed about five times this summer due to shark sightings.
“Activity could be increasing but it’s hard to say right now.”
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Posted by rob61 from Bundaberg & Wide Bay Region, Queensland
29 January 2010 9:49 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Why in the world would anyone go into the waters off Bundaberg when we all know it's beaches are world famous turtle rookeries.
So if you haven't worked it out yet, turtles swim in, lay eggs, swim back out, sharks wait for turtles. Eggs hatch, swim to the ocean, sharks eat turtles.
Tiger sharks have been tracked by GPS, they hang off the northern beaches and islands off north qld, when they are done eating their fill there, they have been tracked to guess where, Bundaberg, especially Mon Repos, they sit and wait for the same thing to occur. So why would you put yourself in the same water as these things while there waiting for a feed.
Sounds pretty dumb to me and don't do the macho surfer thing and say it's their territory and we have to respect it if we get bitten. Give me a break, don't go in there to start with!
Posted by Macca from Banyo, Queensland
29 January 2010 1:59 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
I swim there all the time on holidays. Water is beautiful & clear. I doubt it was a Bull shark, apparently they like murky clouded water and the water at Archies is normally transpatent. There are rocky type reefs in the water too at that beach - maybe a small shark sniffing around the rocks for something to grab. Who knows.
I'm no expert but the bloke was unlucky a shark came by! Simply as that!. I have been wadding here in Brisbane at Nudgee Beach and had a Shark about 750mm in length swim at me and around my legs (20m from shore). That was a young Bull Shark I'm sure. I expected a snap on the ankle as I picked up my son and carried him back onto shore. Luckily it didn't .
But hey - this is Queensland, the beaches are great but some bitey things swim in them as well (or stingy things - blue bottles in southern Qld & worse stingers again up in the tropics !)
Anyway can't wait until my next annual vacation at Bargara.
Posted by charred from Millbank, Queensland
29 January 2010 8:42 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Not everyone lives their life in fear like some people. There are dangers everywhere whenever you step outside your front door. Bike riding, snow skiing, even golf (lightning strike?) Weak people will always find an excuse to not live life to the full.
Posted by Sharksalive from Bundaberg, Queensland
29 January 2010 9:44 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
I have no hesitation to swim at our local beaches. This shark article will not stop me from snorkelling and skindiving. I would be more relaxed if the shark drumlines were removed because soon we won't have any sharks to feel concerned about.
The movie "Jaws" has damaged the sharks image and put fear where it should not be....in our minds.
Since 2000 there have been 107 recorded attacks in Australia. Aussies are absolute beach lovers and yet sharks have only managed one attack a month nation wide for the last decade.
I would feel safer in the ocean during the day than the city streets at night where the real monsters dwell.
Posted by Surferguy from Burnett Heads, Queensland
30 January 2010 8:53 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
@rob61 Why wouldnt you swim/spear.surf etc in the bundaberg waters theres sharks all over the place you get sharks at bondi but people still swim there,that means you are saying that all the people that swim there are dumb?
Ive had sharks swim around me and the people that were out surfing it didnt do anything just snooped around then went away on its own accord
And if you dont like the beach move to the country?
Posted by krestonius from Emerald, Queensland
31 January 2010 11:37 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
rob61, do you live ur life in cottonwool? give surfin' a go it will let you talk about things other than turtles.