A man who was attacked by a Great White shark while surfing in D’Estrees Bay, Kangaroo Island, Australia, displayed an 11-inch scar resulting from the incident. Initially mistaking the shark for a Bronze Whaler, Lee Berryman later confirmed the attack by the Great White on October 7. The South Australia Police reported that the man, in his 50s, drove himself to the hospital post-attack.
Shark Watch South Australia (SWSA) estimated that the shark bite on Mr. Berryman’s thigh was around 10 inches long, indicating the shark was approximately three meters in length. Mr. Berryman’s surfboard was damaged during the attack, and he shared images of his extensive scar, requiring over 50 stitches. He recounted being bitten once and described the shark as having “chomped” on him.
The surfboard showed teeth marks that were identified as those of a Great White, not a Bronze Whaler as initially thought. Mr. Berryman recalled the moment when the shark grabbed him, stating, “Its nose was close to me, and so I just started belting it and it let go.” Despite the ordeal, he expressed no ill feelings towards sharks.
Following the attack, Mr. Berryman swam ashore with two seals swimming around him until he reached safety. He mentioned his ongoing recovery, noting difficulty sitting for extended periods. SWSA announced plans to feature him on their upcoming ‘Sharks Cast’ broadcast. Mr. Berryman, a seasoned surfer and diver, expressed his familiarity with the waters and emphasized his lack of fear towards sharks.
Statistics from the Australian Shark Incident Database reveal an average of 20 shark incidents annually over the past decade, with an average of 2.8 fatalities and seven incidents resulting in no injuries.
