Shark attack near Byron Bay leaves surfer in hospital and beaches closed
A man has been attacked by a shark on the New South Wales far-north coast.
The 41-year-old was surfing at Belongil Beach at Byron Bay when he was attacked just after 6.30am today.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated him at the scene for lacerations to his upper leg, before he was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The man's friend, Dane Davidson, said the pair had only just paddled out when the shark attacked.
"As soon as my mate got out the back he sat up on his board and instantly a shark smashed from underneath … knocking him clean off his board," Mr Davidson said.
"There was a lot of splashing and smashing and he started screaming."
Mr Davidson said he paddled his friend back to the shore.
"We didn't realise until we were on the beach that there was a big chunk taken out of his leg so there was a lot of blood.
"I was freaking. When I heard the screams he was making in the water and then I saw a chunk of his board floating off, that's when I realised it was pretty bad."
Mr Davidson and several bystanders created a tourniquet around the man's leg using board ropes.
"He was conscious but … his eyes were drifting around a bit, he seemed a bit dizzy.
"He was saying his breathing was labouring … overall I think he was alright he was just in a bit of shock."
He said his friend was "in good spirits" when ambulance officers took him to hospital and was thanking everyone for their help.
Belongil Beach and Main Beach will be closed for 24 hours.
Following a spate of shark attacks in northern NSW, the State Government introduced a $16-million shark strategy including increased aerial surveillance and the use of smart drumlines that bait and capture sharks which are then relocated.
NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Troy Grant, said the Government's shark strategy was to protect those using the ocean "as best we can".
"It won't be flawless, and it's always a concern when somebody is attacked by a shark.
"These are waters that are their habitat, this is where they swim and live.
"Thankfully this person appears to be OK."
//Joanne Shoebridge and Cameron Gooley
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
Water was super warm on the Tweed yesterday, didn't see any marine life though.
Lot of baitfish and terns working here yesterday.
felt really sharky.
hope the guy is OK.
Was eerily no wildlife at all at the pass last night, must have congregated at Belongil
Cool handle , flogonalog.
You too Blowin! Hahahaha
Ditto ... Hope he is doing ok.
Adrenaline will have worn off about by now, be a bit surreal n weird feeling for the victim n his mate.
Swimmer missing at ballina lighthouse beach also........lunch?
not a shark but seeing as we are talking about marine life would love some help or advice if anyone knows - i was surfing cooly points yesterday, felt a really painful sting on my arm, looked down to see a reddish jellyfish about the size of a tennis ball. most painful sting ive felt in 30+ years of surfing. my shoulder started to cramp up, and had to come in. 11 hours later at bedtime it was still really sore despite icing it a few times and applying soothing antiseptic cream. left my arm red, slightly swollen, and with big white bumps on it where the sting was. anyone experienced anything similar?
Not the greatest description but sounds like a Mauve Stinger.
Agreed. Mauve stinger. Also known as a little mauve stinger, purple stinger, or purple people eater. Painful fuckers
Colour can vary through orange, red, and funnily enough, purple and mauve
http://lifesaving.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Marine-Stinger-Fact-Sheets-P...
https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/jellyfish/purple-stinger/
I'm a firm believer in vinegar to neutralize the marine 'poison' aka sting ... I always carry white vinegar in my surf first side kit.
By your description, it sounds like the ones we've had all summer. No long tentacles, but shortish ones only a few cm long... Can you find a picture online and post a link?
One bloke gets chomped by a shark, lucky to be alive, another disappears completely and you chime in with a fricken jellyfish tale..
Gimmie a break..
go fuck yourself The Fire. If you read my post, it was simply asking advice in case anyone knew what it was. Obviously nothing like a shark attack or a drowning. To the other people who replied, I googled images for Mauve stinger but couldnt find one that looked like what i saw.
Nah mate, im not the self proclaiming jelly fish victim, you are. Are you safe and sound at home tonight? This guy still missing. FUCK YOU. Wake up..
For what its worth the fella that did go missing sounnded like a true waterman. I work with someone that kniws him and its been a hard day to say the leassr, Journey well into the next world if i was half the man you were i would be honored.
A tragic loss for the ballina community.
Much respect.
The fire.
Ripraz
What was he 69 years old lifesaver? Swimming in what has been chunky conditions. Dangerous to me. I'd prefer something to float on.
Picture of his board here, was unlucky just got out the back sat up and got hit.
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/beaches-close-as-shark-att...
Story from his mate here.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-17/byron-bay-shark-attack-leaves-sur...
Damage to the board fits the description of the attack. Ambush from under n up into mid body. Not a massive bite, but, big enough to have torn the fuck out of his flesh etc.
I suspect the wound is ugly.
Hope he is doing ok.
That's an odd bite mark if the bite occurred with the board up the right way. Looks like the shark had an underbite if the board was right way up.
So after the attack they tried spotting the shark from the air ,,and couldn't find it .
In my humble opinion that puts more holes in the shark 'data' from drones . I doubt the shark completely bailed from the area , they just couldn't spot it.
"An extensive search of the Byron coastline has been completed by #Lifesaver 21 , lots of dolphins and turtles sighted but no sharks....." about 9AM this morning.
Shark attack? Closed beaches? Never gonna happen at The Pass, especially on a sunny Sunday with clean overhead waves.
Overhead?
Maybe to a leprechaun.
What is this? Over head for ants!?
I took the snapshot between sets to show the extent of the crowd. Actual surf size wasn't quite the focal point of my post either. But, hey.
There are sets breaking out in the middle of the Bay.
And a decent size past Spectators Rock.
You'd have to be a unlucky leprechaun to get hit in amongst that gaggle
Knowing the Irish they'd have better luck getting King Hit outside one of the night clubs later that night
The Irish would have better luck passing out in the shower with their ass over the drain pipe and flooding their house till the neighbour slaps them awake still passed out over the drain pipe. (True story)
So are we thinking shark attack or heart attack for the missing strong swimmer/lifeguard from lighthouse beach?
Heart
Speedy recovery mate.
Stay safe out there fellow north coastians. Only been seeing the usual pods of dolphins of late. Strangely I’ve seen more stingrays than normal in past week or so. One session had 3 occurrences of a ray breaching right next to me
Bloody hell we stopped at Belongil at 6am this morning for a wave. Decided to head up the coast instead thankfully. 5 days in a row this week we either saw sharks or had the heli circle us siren blaring.
The missing swimmer is raz.
Old school body basher.
Budgie smugglers and flippers. Even on bigger days
He's out the back . Can't imagine he'd drown. Something's gone wrong.
Fuck was it Raz?
Yeah mate, sad day.
The search for said missing lifesaver did report several shark sightings thru afternoon.
Context: Ballina search Chopper & crews were out in force all yesterday.
Only they could confirm who many Sharks or size / relation to today's Byron attack.
Frightful weekend tragedies rock North Coast..all wishing for a more forgiving sea.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/desperate-search-veteran-lifesaver-missing-wil...
the $16 million Govt incentive doesn't seem to working
Surfer was Sam Edwardes from round the corner of my old place in Suffolk Park.
Get well soon, sam
Raz got into some strife surfing Kawaihae outrigger canoes on 2m Bar waves.
https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/canoeists-swamped-near-bar/461369/
A good while back @ Snapper..long haired tripper rocks up in Y fronts Mid Winter
This was a basherz day! Scooping fast hollow set waves...Thanks for the fish!
This hellcat wanted to Wrestlebash waves off tbb...Fine! 'Whatever...you weirdo!'
Yeah! Twin-wrestle the waveface..Relentlessly divebombing then tackling me.
Full speed Snapper and the faster I go the Y fronted wildcat latches onto his prey.
Please understand he wished a spirited embrace not kill the man with the wave.
As we got out he was talking to the Lifeguard for a good long while.
Death stare & Pointing the bone declaring he was #1 as he drove off in NSW Combi.
I now read Raz is a mad keen Rugby Fan & it all points to same long haired tripper.
For the record local elder Bodybasherz go 4-6hrs- obviously more for Wildcat Raz.
tbb salutes World Champion Bodybasher.
Huey is sizing up your wave now Raz ~~~~^~~~~//~~~~/(C_`>-}o
Well its strange how the attacks happen, 3 in a couple months ...nambucca, urunga and now byron all early morning and all by what seems a juvenile white......same shark?well we will never know, but seems these events happen in so called clusters......
Rogue shark theory has been utterly debunked by scientists utilising the power of positive thinking in lieu of scientific evidence.
The methodology behind the consensus scientific theory that rogue sharks don’t exist : https://www.thesecret.tv/
Theory after theory is ventilated and just as quickly debunked. Meanwhile, people continue to die where there are no nets and baited drum lines. If that wasn't insulting enough, we have to watch those videos with "scientists" trying to convince us that we can't tell the difference between a dolphin and a shark. Fair dinkum...
7 news saying juvenile white pointer.
Those juvenile white pointers are out there. They hunt for a living. Every now and then they will have a go at something they see or sense. No big mystery or need for science to explain it. But if there numbers increase the odds go up.
Re. Raz
"It’s understood the retired school teacher signalled for help but by the time lifesavers got out to him, he was gone."
http://www.mygc.com.au/police-suspend-search-for-missing-swimmer/
I thought it would've been much safer there with all the drones flying around , and with scientists and lifesavers calculating the odds of seeing more 'fevers of rays' than men in grey suits lurking around the perimeter .
The threat is overblown some say
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/01/31/drones-deploy...
Hope Sam is OK! It's there environment that we are surfing in & the odds tell us you have more chance of getting killed going for a drive in your car than having a surf. THIS CONSIDERED precautions like not surfing @ dawn or dusk & the more people out the better your odds are of not being a victim etc etc. Great Whites have been protected for 25 yrs or more now plus more surfers= more encounters with this apex predator.
Surfed all weekend between clarkes and The Pass. Saw dolphins, a sea turtle and some rays. But no sharks. The IRB buzzed us yesterday morning at 8ish to say the beach was closed. Hope Sam recovers soon.
Sam's mate Tony Donoghue was also attacked by a Great White Shark.
29 May 1999 Windsurfing at Hardwicke Bay York Peninsular.
Sam & friends saw Tony disappear & never remount his craft.
Body was never found but Shark ravaged Board/wetsuit was recovered
Evidence pointing to a Great White Attack as with his mate Sam. (Get well soon)
Detailed account of Sam's previous Great White Shark tragedy...
http://sharkattackfile.net/spreadsheets/pdf_directory/1999.05.29-Donoghu...
Sam makes a yearly pilgrimage to the site of his mate Tony's disappearance.
[NEWS] Search for missing Lifesaver/Bodybasher Raz continues & ends Today.
Our finest earn our respect by ramping up efforts in Cyclonic conditions
{ Right here & now we Salute fellow watermen/waterwomen's dedication }
Thanks for the memories Raz,
I will always inspired by your dedication to the ocean and seeing you out there always made me at ease.
RIP Raz
Go Fund Me set up for Sam - $40 k goal currently on $7000
Has there been any sign of the missing swimmer yet?
I was reading an article about how he is swimming every day in Ballina, often out the back.
That’s pretty brave given the recent history.
If he is never found, would you be confident in classing that as another shark incident?
Sad story either way
I posted this a bit further up the page. Not sure where they sourced this info from though.
Re. Raz
"It’s understood the retired school teacher signalled for help but by the time lifesavers got out to him, he was gone."
http://www.mygc.com.au/police-suspend-search-for-missing-swimmer/
Thanks ld, wonder if he spotted something in the water or just wasnt feeling well...
Was he signaling for help cause he’d just had his leg removed at the knee ?
[ATTENTION] Police Request
Message to all North/Gold Coast swellnetonians
Re: Raz
Please keep watch for Yellow/Black trim fins.
If Found...phone (infoline) Crimestoppers 1800 333
Re: Ballina Police / Marine Command < > SLSC
Photo of similar 'Mad Dog' Yellow Flipper attached...
https://www.echo.net.au/2019/02/still-no-sign-missing-ballina-lifesaver/
If crew could please assist with displaying said Police Flipper request.
[No News on Raz]
I keep thinking the body might be tucked up under a keep in the Groyne!
A dog is the best option to locate inshore or at sea missing persons.
UK special Unit with 'Max' & his Cadaver craft that seems to also retrieve bodies.
Here we see 'Fern' locate a target 6m deep.
Dogs & Snakes share a sensory trigger called Jacobson's Organ.
This organ collects then analyzes chemicals from both air & water.
https://wagwalking.com/sense/can-a-dog-smell-underwater
A common Myth is that Sharks sniff out Dogs....(Hold that thought!)
Here 'Cloud' sniffs out Dead Cetaceans
https://www.clickertraining.com/node/1185
Dogs sniff out extinct frogs to Shark Fins & track down Whale Poo
Dogs sniff out small > large + dead or alive in shallow to deep water to open sea.
*Therefore assume a trained dog can easily track down Sharks in Lakes & Rivers!
Don't Sharks hunt Dogs? Possibly why this Mystery of life remains a secret! Shh!
Hey! Man's bestest ever friend ever! How many Scooby snacks for Shark Patrol ?
Kookaburra never Laughed so hard! "Team Humans are onto the next clue!"
well detective TTB gets a promotion to senior detective...good stuff!
Either that or his constituent elements are now part of a large fish.
From watery grave it's clear to me
Unearthing secrets our king of the sea
Sea dog teaches new Truebluebasherz
In memory of Surfing legend Raz
Full credit goes to Raz...
To be Honest I only thought of getting Dogs into the Rocks at Low tide.
I was unaware of committed cadaver retrieval units...nor the rest.
It's a new field in other countries re: Malaysia & (link)US/2011 reported body recovery.
South Australia SES ...
Ms Wood:"Dogs smell t'spoon of sugar in 2xOlympic pool vs (We < > Glass of water)"
Ms Wood's father: I'd love to see a water transition cadaver retrieval unit.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-29/south-australias-ses-dog-rescue-t...
No! I have never read anywhere that Dogz can sniff out Sharks!
But all evidence points to that being part of their DNA
Sharks & Dogs may well equally smell each other out? (Fatal Attraction!)
Sharks are mostly led by splash of dog.(Owners: 'Attack was instant upon entry!')
Evidence of a Shark hunting down a dog is by story telling only.
(Reverse is True)
[Breaking News] tbb Shark LifeGuard theory is no hoax
Dogs can not only smell Sharks but fish for them, beach them or herd them out to sea.
Introducing Dogs going Shark Fishing for dinner
https://www.reddit.com/r/natureismetal/comments/9bmjmg/dog_with_its_shar...
&t=176s&ab_channel=JesseJohnsonThis is the vid from previous link Shark fishing @ [1:00]
Watch school of sharks now wait & see how fast dog strikes at one rogue shark.
Size is of no matter
Dog Life Guard removes Sharks from the beach & sends them out to sea...
Note: Dogs work any Beach/Reef/Pier/Boat...
see: Aussie Dog Life Guards on Shark Patrol.
see: Dog leap from boat grab Hooked Shark by the head & muscles it up onto beach.
https://www.snotr.com/video/1598/A_dog_attacks_a_shark
Shark Mitigation...
'WSL Margaret River Pro deploys Line-up Labradors.'
'Surfchix cute Labradoodle Range has sold out!'
'Labradors tow-in Bodybasherz'
Don't get your hopes up just yet as Dogs kill far more humans than Sharks.
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/odds/compare-risk/dog-at...
[BONUS CATCH] If you reckon it can't get weirder...
https://www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2015/4/9/a-bobcat-catches-a-shar...
Swellnet Dedication salutes Bodybasher RAZ {Lost at Sea}
*Sunday 10/March/2019 Ballina slsc over 200 turned out for Paddle Out / Memorial
Paddle-Out image is OK by Google image search. ( Should Subscriber image link fail )
https://www.google.com/search?q=ballina+raz+ballina+slsc&source=lnms&tbm...
Ballina SLSC Memorial Photo Album
(Raised Oars / Clubbie Paddle Out / Raz's Seat [Out Surfin']
https://www.facebook.com/BLLSLSC/photos/pcb.2210585295697941/22105849123...
*Tuesday 12/March/2019 More than 1,000 attend Memorial Service @ Ballina RLC
https://www.ballinarugby.com.au/seahorse-blog/2019/2/21/vale-raz
*Wednesday 13/March/2019 Northern Star Front Page (+Page 2.)[via press reader]
*Memorial Photo Album with special thanks to...Northern Star.
https://www.northernstar.com.au/photos/raz-burtonwood-memorial-service/7...
Finish with Raz's Flippers if you see one call Police Thanks!
https://www.echo.net.au/2019/02/still-no-sign-missing-ballina-lifesaver/
If these bad boys hang around off Ballina for a while it might sort out the Great Whites.
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-13/whale-watchers-witness-orcas-k...
Wow. I've only ever seen these bad boys once, in 30 years of surfing...and that was from a great distance off the south oz coast. They pop up in the most random places in oz..(apart from Bremer). Great share. Thanks Distracted. The Kings of the Ocean.
Well it will be interesting to see if the whites go awl for a while now.
Just read that the rains supersize the EAC clockwise rivermouth Rips
4 days rain & Richmond River rip drops off Whale swimschool into Orca's drive-thru.
No accident but good timing & a fair bit of luck brings the Orcas to the Food Court.
As the crew said a rare win for the Orcas...A Natural Wonder!
Same here bluediamond, also just seen them the once & still recall the majesty.
TBB, that’s an interesting observation about that poor guy who went missing at Ballina in March as discussed above and the remains found at Coffs the other day. Seems like a long way to travel though.
Craig, the bones found in Port Mac in June we’re from one of two backpackers that are thought to have gone for an evening swim
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6274313/police-confirm-bones-are-...
Wonder if Raz was wearing booties with his flippers......if it wasn't for the bootie keeping those bones afloat they would be on the bottom somewhere...a call from the grave for some poor bugger.
that's not far to travel in the EAC if they are Raz' bones.
fuck he used to swim way the fuck out the back on big days.
Can't rule out Raz as he wore flippers! Borrowed or blisters may lead to bootie assist!
Also 2 French Backpackerz & a record growing list of missing Qld fishermen.
Yesterday morning tbb reminded nsw police of Belgium backpacker Theo Hayez.
18 y'old went Missing... believed from Suffolk Park on June 1.
Winter Timeline fits booties + Missing, borrowed or hired beach gear @ Byron norm.
Family & friends linked his disappearance to the ocean...
(Police divers searched ocean & ended search in Sept.)
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2019/06/20/police-divers-join-the-search-for-...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-30/theo-hayez-six-months-on-torture-...
Police seek assist > crew will load Craig's in-depth AEC series.
https://www.swellnet.com/comment/260606
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-analysis/2016/03/10/sydneys-cold-...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-analysis/2017/07/27/warm-water-pe...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-analysis/2019/01/03/analysis-cold...
Doubt it's Theo.
he was fully clothed, got kicked out of Cheeky Monkeys near midnight.
where would he get the booties from at the time of night?
Wouldn't be Theos as FR said,but a lot depends on type of bootie eg diving bootie is nothing like a surfing boot or a boogy boarder bootie.....possibly a rock fisherman ....wonder if the bones had barnicles growing on them......and how old the bones are.
Possible they could have drifted down from North Queensland in the ecc......
https://www.smh.com.au/national/missing-queensland-diver-s-leg-found-hun...
crazy!
Yeah that’s insane how it could end up there
{ APOLOGY }
tbb apologizes to said families & crew for linking other missing persons...
tbb equally informed Police to not discount recent missing Qld Diver/fishermen
Swellnet EAC links were more of use in this case...
Police inferred that body was in ocean for 'some time'...(never meant-several months!)
At the time...Police also said the leg could've travelled 100's of kms.
So, not NSW / winter Divers but was in fact the further afield more recent Qld Diver.
Crew send condolences {R.I.P} ' Waterman Drew '
re: Blowin- news link (Above)
24 Nov 2019 Andrew Page 38y'old went missing diving with friends off Elliot Heads.
17 Dec 2019 @ Mylestom is roughly 600-650km by sea.
EAC flow speed constantly varies but can run to 7km/hr (see: Above links)
Salute to Police in prompt outcome in missing at sea case...(Well done all concerned!)