Man attacked by shark at Pyramids Beach south of Perth
A surfer has been attacked by a shark at Pyramids Beach, near Mandurah, south of Perth.
Police said the incident happened at about 9:00am on Sunday.
The man, who is believed to be aged in his 20s, has been flown to hospital for treatment, but his injuries are not considered life-threatening.
He was conscious and able to speak with paramedics, and he gave the thumbs up to friends and family on the beach before he was taken away.
The injured man is transported in the back of a vehicle to a waiting helicopter (photo: Liam Phillips)
St John Ambulance issued a statement saying the man "suffered traumatic injuries to a foot and ankle".
Surf Life Saving WA operations supervisor Jake Webb said the man managed to get himself out of the water before lifesavers reached him.
"[He] had already dragged himself onto the rock, he had four puncture wounds … the patrol treated him on the scene and moved him to the first aid room," Mr Webb said.
Surf lifesavers urging people to get out of the water after the shark attack (photo: Alisha O'Flaherty)
Mr Webb said some people chose not to leave the water, despite the beach closure and the advice of lifesavers.
Police had at one stage believed the man was sitting on rocks with his legs dangling in the water when he was bitten, but now say he was on a bodyboard in the water at the time of the attack.
There have been two other non-fatal shark attacks at Pyramids Beach in recent years. A teenage boy was bitten on the leg by a two-metre shark in November 2014, and a grey nurse shark bit an 18-year-old man on the foot in October 2015.
Pyramids Beach has been closed (photo: Liam Phillips)
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
Wasn’t a lot of surf around today either.
I hear there is a magnet there.
Does anyone get the picture that sharks prefer people who are swimming/surfing alone? (As well as dawn and dusk)
I wonder if thats a scientific fact or just common sense?
In the meantime,
"I think I'm going to paddle over next to old mate, just to even out the odds"
Note to future feet danglers,
"Police had at one stage believed the man was sitting on rocks with his legs dangling in the water when he was bitten, ......"
Or maybe I was bodysurfing.
Close enough init?
They need to seperate a real attack ie white sharks bulls etc from maybe wobbiegong, dog sharks and species that mabe have reacted from being stood on near rocks,not saying thats whats happened here but if it is the case you cant blame the shark for self defence.
Noahs have been known to attack other Noahs.
A few years ago we were diving several kilometres from shore and we saw a tiger shark in full attack mode mauling another shark. The speed and intensity freaked me out. We’d have no chance of surfing something like that.