Surfer is mauled by a shark at South African beach and has to be dragged bleeding
A surfer who was mauled by a great white shark was rescued by fellow wave riders, who towed him back to shore – just weeks before a world tour event takes place on the same South African beach.
The victim, a 50-year-old man from Cape Town, was swimming in Jeffrey’s Bay on South Africa’s east coast yesterday when the predator clamped its jaws on his leg.
Fellow surfers were able to pull him to shore and helped care for him while medics rushed to the scene. he was later taken to hospital where he is reportedly recovering.
The area has been the scene of a series of high-profile shark attacks in recent years, with the latest incident coming just weeks before the Corona World Tour surfing event on the beach.
A surfer who was mauled by a great white shark was rescued by fellow wave riders, who towed him back to shore – just weeks before a world tour event takes place on the same South African beach. Pictured: the surfer’s horrific injuries
A surfboard on Wednesday night after being attacked by a shark in South Africa’s Jeffrey’s Bay
On Wednesday evening, a surfer was attacked by a shark in South Africa’s Jeffreys Bay. The victim, believed to be a 50-year-old man from Cape Town, suffered non-fatal injuries to his leg and was taken to hospital for treatment.
According to reports from local security officials, he was ‘stable’ and ‘in a good mood’
According to an eyewitness account, a a bystander called the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and obtained an access code for their shark bite kit to treat his wounds while they were underway.
Paramedics from the Institute took over his care on arrival before he was taken to hospital.
According to reports from local officials, the man is now “stable” and “in good spirits.”
The NSRI shared a press release from Craig Lambinon following the incident, stating: ‘At 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, NSRI Jeffreys Bay crew on duty was activated following reports of a man being bitten by a shark while surfing at Supertubes , Jeffreys Bay.
“A bystander had raised the alarm and asked for the access code to the NSRI shark bite kit stationed at that beach.
Upon arrival at the scene, NSRI medics assisted public members who had already applied trauma pads to a bite wound sustained by the surfer who was safely out of the water.
“The patient, believed to be 50 years old, from Cape Town, was in a stable condition and in good spirits.”
They added: “NSRI commends the quick action of the public and fellow Samaritan surfers.”
Jeffrey’s Bay is an infamous location, known for its high concentration of great whites.
The beach, which sits along a beautiful coastline, has been rated as the second best surfing destination in the world after Australia’s Gold Coast.
However, it has played host to some very high-profile shark attacks.
The beach has hosted a World Surf League event since 1996 and made headlines in 2015 after a shark attack on three-time world champion Mick Fanning.
In 2013, an attack on 74-year-old surfer Burgert Van Der Westhuizen also took place in the bay.
Only seven others have been recorded on the beach since 1989, but all victims survived.
Professional surfer Wayne Monk is among those attacked after a shark bit him on the foot during a 2004 trip to J-Bay.
By far the most high-profile attack was on Fanning, with TV cameras during the surf event capturing the moment he punched the shark in the face to escape.
In this screenshot from World Surf League footage, Australia’s Mick Fanning is attacked by a shark during the Jbay Open on July 19, 2015 in South Africa’s Jeffreys Bay
In 2017, Fanning was again forced to be pulled from the ocean during his quarterfinal match against Brazilian Gabriel Medina after sighting a shark.
Jet skis rushed in to get the Australian out of the water after a ten-foot beast was spotted heading towards surfers past the break.
In 2016, he spoke about the incident to ABC.
It’s all part of surfing. There’s not much anyone can do,” he said.
He added: ‘I’ve surfed a lot of different places and have seen sharks since then and haven’t been too concerned.
“We’re not going out and putting a cage around J-Bay.”