A 61-year-old wing surfer has recounted his terrifying ordeal after a shark, believed to be a great white, launched a sudden attack, leaving a massive bite mark in his board and dragging him underwater off the coast of Western Australia.
A Sudden Attack From The Deep
The dramatic incident unfolded on Monday afternoon near the famous Bombie surfing point at Margaret River in WA's South West. Andy McDonald was wing-foiling when the predator struck without warning.
"Just out of the blue, something just went bang, straight up from behind, like a super solid hit and I was flying through the air and just crashed into the water," McDonald told 7NEWS, describing the moment of impact that left him completely off guard.
The Terrifying Scramble For Survival
What followed was a frantic struggle in the surf. The shark latched onto his equipment, turning the water into a chaotic scene. "It was obviously biting my board, and then it dragged me under the water, took me under, dragging the board and the sail," McDonald said.
The shark became entangled in his leashes, pulling him down before the tension finally broke. "I think the weight of my body, it broke free, and then I was like, 'holy hell, I've got to get out of here'." In a remarkable act of self-defence, the experienced surfer reported punching the shark during the attack.
Miraculous Escape and Official Response
In an incredible stroke of luck, McDonald was able to make his way back to shore uninjured. The evidence of how close a call it was, however, is starkly visible on his equipment, which sports a large and chilling bite mark.
The entire attack was captured by a Swellnet surf camera, providing dramatic footage of the encounter. Following the scary interaction, authorities issued an official shark warning for the Prevelly area in the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.
Demonstrating true surfer resilience, Andy McDonald said he hopes to be back on his board as early as Wednesday, undeterred by his brush with one of the ocean's most formidable predators.
